People born in the 1970s and 1980s have happy memories of class breaks when they could indulge in the sports of their choice which activated their bodies and minds. But the current lot of students don't have this opportunity because their break time has been reduced from 10 to 5 minutes or even cancelled, says an article in People's Daily. Excerpts:

School authorities say they have reduced the duration of class break from 10 to 5 minutes to ensure students' safety. But parents believe the authorities have decided to do so either to save money or to avoid trouble.

Class breaks give students the necessary time to unwind and prepare for the next class. Reduction in the duration of class breaks will not help students in any way. Since physical education plays an important role in helping students prepare for higher classes, they have to find other means and time to get the necessary physical exercise.

Public schools are actually public facilities, which have to perform all the mandatory public services. The current daily schedule of schools is usually between 7 am and 3:30 pm, after which no student is allowed to use the school premises which in a way is a waste of public resources.

The existing arrangement should be changed in response to public demand. Plus, the school authorities have to listen to the advice of parents and students to create a closer bond between home and school. For starters, they could revert to the "10-minute class break"

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