Daijiworld Media Network – Panaji

Panaji, Apr 7: In a significant shift from the traditional school calendar, Goa has officially rolled out its revamped academic schedule in line with the National Education Policy (NEP), with classes for Std VI to X and Std XII beginning today, April 7, for the academic year 2025-26.

Breaking away from the conventional June-April timeline, the academic year for these classes will now run from April to March. Students from Std I to V and Std XI, however, will continue to follow the traditional start date, with their classes set to begin from June 4.

Owing to soaring temperatures and a heatwave warning in place till April 9, schools have been instructed to operate only till 11:30 am during the initial days of the new term. The summer vacation for all students is scheduled to begin on May 1 and will span five weeks.

All middle, secondary, and higher secondary institutions under the Goa Board's jurisdiction have already notified students about the revised schedule. The Department of Education has emphasized that this change is aimed at ensuring timely syllabus completion and meeting the requirement of 220 instructional days.

As per the new structure, the first term will be held from April 7 to October 15, while the second term will run from November 4 to March 24, 2026. The First Summative or Terminal Examination is to be completed by October 7, and the Second Summative is recommended to conclude before March 13, 2026.

Holiday breaks have been strategically spaced, with Ganesh Chaturthi holidays from August 26 to September 1, Diwali vacations from October 16 to November 3, and the annual Christmas break from December 24 to January 2.

Officials believe that the revised academic calendar, structured to match NEP objectives, will provide students with a more balanced and effective learning experience while ensuring academic milestones are achieved in a timely manner.