A growing number of school teachers in Hyderabad are demanding that second Saturdays be officially declared holidays across all educational institutions, including private and corporate schools. Despite the Telangana government calendar already recognizing second Saturdays as holidays for government employees, many private schools continue to operate, causing frustration among faculty. Teachers argue that the current single weekly holiday on Sunday is inadequate, especially when they are expected to work for nearly 10 hours a day and often take home administrative duties beyond school hours.
Speaking anonymously to Siasat.com, several teachers expressed how their workload extends far beyond classroom teaching, with school managements assigning them paperwork and reporting responsibilities after official hours. One teacher highlighted the unfair disparity, questioning why schools are excluded from Saturday holiday provisions that apply to other government departments. The sentiment is that educational staff are being overburdened without adequate rest, which can affect both their performance and mental well-being over time.
On Thursday, representatives from the Telangana Private Teachers and Lecturers Forum (TPTLF), Students’ Federation of India (SFI), and Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) submitted a formal representation to Dr. Naveen Nicolas, Director of School Education. The memorandum urged the department to ensure implementation of second Saturday holidays across all schools and take action against institutions violating the government calendar. Alongside this, student activists also raised concerns over the ongoing fee exploitation in private schools and called for stricter laws to regulate such practices.
