PONDA, March 21 -- Team Herald

Parents in Ponda have voiced their support for the National Education Policy (NEP) but strongly opposed the commencement of the academic year in April, citing concerns over the extreme summer heat and its potential health hazards for students.

Gathering in Ponda, parents emphasised the necessity of a break or holiday period for students after their examinations to prevent fatigue and heat-related illnesses. They suggested that schools should commence only after mid-May or June, coinciding with the cooler monsoon season, rather than in the peak summer months.

Expressing fears that the heat wave could intensify in the coming days, parents have urged authorities to postpone the implementation of the NEP by a...