Patna, April 30: District magistrate Sanjay Kumar Agrawal today issued a notice, allowing willing private schools to conduct special remedial classes only for classes X and XII between 7am and 10.30am during the summer vacation.

The district administration took this decision following requests from various private schools to allow for carrying on special remedial classes to complete the syllabus.

In the wake of intense heat wave and tough weather conditions, Agrawal on April 26 directed all the private and public schools to declare summer vacation from May 5.

The permission was given after the schools approached and requested Agrawal, seeking exemption for students of classes X and XII from early closure of schools. The notice has brought respite for the schools, which are worried to complete the syllabus.

Mary Alphonsa, principal, Don Bosco Academy, said the early announcement of summer vacation had made the teachers to complete several chapters in haste in order to complete the syllabus. "Teachers can easily finish the syllabus but it will not benefit the students, especially the weak ones. I am thankful to the district administration for taking this initiative after we request him for the same." The school would take classes till May 14.

Loyola High School principal Brother Satheesh was also worried over the declaration of early summer vacation. "It is very important for the senior students who will appear for the board exam next year; they need more time to comprehend several topics and chapters. If the teachers give so many home assignments, they will not be able to finish but copy it from somewhere," said the principal.

"It gives students time to grasp what the teachers are teaching," said V.S. Ojha, principal, DAV Public School BSEB.

Aamir Rizwan, a Class XII student of St Michael's High School, said the directive would be fruitful. "Teachers of different subjects have started teaching at a rapid pace as they want to complete 30 per cent major topics of the subjects before vacation," he said.