Schools across Hyderabad and the rest of Telangana may soon adopt a five-day school week if the state government approves a new proposal submitted by Teachers’ Constituency MLC Malka Komaraiah. Under the proposal, Saturdays would be declared holidays, while school hours from Monday to Friday would be extended by around 35 to 40 minutes to ensure that the required academic hours are completed without affecting the curriculum.

The proposal has been made in view of the expected impact of El Niño, possible water shortages, and rising temperatures. According to the MLC, introducing Saturday holidays could help conserve water, reduce traffic congestion, and lower vehicle emissions by cutting down school-related transportation. He also stated that an additional weekly holiday would give students and teachers more time to rest and recover during periods of extreme weather.

At present, the five-day school week remains only a proposal and no final decision has been taken by the Telangana government. If approved by the Chief Minister, the new system could be implemented in schools across Hyderabad and other districts of the state. The proposal is being considered as a possible temporary measure to address the challenges posed by changing climatic conditions and anticipated water scarcity.