Should nine-yr.-olds be kept in school until 4 p.m.?

I regularly go to pick up my grandson, who is in Year 4 at a leading Buddhist school in Maradana. His classes usually conclude at 1 p.m. However, on certain days the students are kept in school until around 4 p.m., as teachers prepare them for the forthcoming Grade 5 Scholarship Examination.

When I went to pick him up last Wednesday at about 4 p.m., he complained that he was completely exhausted after the long day at school.

While preparing students academically is undoubtedly important, it is equally vital to consider the physical and mental wellbeing of young children. Extended hours of study at such a tender age can be overly demanding and may lead to fatigue, stress, and even a loss of interest in learning. In this context, I respectfully request the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs - which has recently cautioned against online classes for children aged 3 to 5 - to work together with the Ministry of Education to review this practice and advise schools against conducting prolonged classes for primary school students. Grade 5 Scholarship Pressure: Aren’t the young children being pushed too hard? Education should nurture curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, not exhaustion.

Mohamed Zahran

Colombo