As teachers, we often perceive what children cannot always articulate. We notice their listless gazes in morning assemblies, anxiety before tests, and restlessness. We often mistake these indications for indiscipline. We also observe how a relaxed child asks better questions, participates more freely, and learns with joy. These everyday classroom experiences remind us that learning is deeply connected to a child’s emotional and mental state. This is a reality strongly affirmed by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Across schools in Jammu & Kashmir, teachers and students work with commitment and resilience, often under challenging circumstances. Yet, in our sincere effort to complete targets, and show outcomes, we may be overlooking a fundamental principle of NEP 2020 that is children are not just academic performers but emotional, social, and creative beings whose holistic development must be protected.
NEP 2020 clearly aims to shifts the focus from rote learning and excessive academic load to joyful, experiential, and learner-centred education. It calls for nurturing socio-emotional skills, critical thinking, creativity, physical and mental well being. For this vision to move from policy to practice, the structure of the school week itself needs thoughtful re-examination.
One constructive step in this direction would be the adoption of a five-day school week, keeping Saturday and Sunday completely off. As we are now aware that learning does not happen only within classrooms. Children need unstructured time to interact with family, engage in play, pursue interests, reflect, and rest. Continuous academic engagement without adequate breaks often leads to fatigue, anxiety, reduced attention, and emotional withdrawal.
Two consecutive days away from formal schooling may help children to build emotional security through family interaction and social skills through community engagement. This is an alarming concern today, as children of the present generation increasingly prefer staying indoors rather than engaging with their community and the outside world.
Globally, many high-performing education systems have long adopted a Monday to Friday school week, demonstrating that academic excellence does not require six days of formal schooling. Countries such as Finland, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Germany, France, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand follow a five-day school structure with weekends reserved for family time, recreation, and personal development.
Notably, Japan officially transitioned to a five-day school week to reduce student stress and promote holistic growth. Finland continues to be cited internationally for balancing student well-being with strong learning outcomes.
Within India, several states and systems have demonstrated that learning outcomes can be sustained and improved within a five-day academic framework. Delhi government schools largely follow a five-day academic model, with Saturdays used selectively and strictly for teacher professional development or co-curricular activities rather than routine classroom instruction.
Central government institutions such as Kendriya Vidyalayas and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas also reflect this approach to achieve holistic education goals.
Additionally, states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh have introduced reforms such as bagless days and activity-based learning, implicitly recognising the need to reduce academic congestion and create breathing space within the school calendar.
For students in J&K, the case for a five-day school week is even stronger. Long travel distances, harsh weather conditions and limited recreational opportunities on school days often add to physical and mental exhaustion. Weekends frequently become extensions of school through homework, tuition, and test preparation, leaving little room for rest or self-growth.
A five-day school week can improve the quality of engagement during school hours, reduce burnout and absenteeism, strengthen family-school partnerships.This will allow teachers sufficient time to understand, adapt, and effectively adopt the pedagogical and assessment changes proposed in NEP 2020.
Importantly, this shift should not mean compressing the syllabus into fewer days, but rather rethinking priorities, reducing unnecessary load, and emphasising depth over speed.
Conclusion
As educators, we witness daily how academic pressure quietly accumulates in young minds. Adopting a five-day school week with Saturday and Sunday kept completely off, is not about reducing seriousness in education but restoring balance, joy, and purpose to learning. A structured Monday to Friday schedule allows schools to focus on quality teaching as protected weekends give children the much-needed space for rest, play, family bonding and emotional growth. In alignment with NEP 2020, and inspired by progressive practices in other countries and Indian states, Jammu & Kashmir should move towards a five-day academic week as a conscious reform. It can serve as an initiative that might nurture healthier minds, stronger social skills, and learners who return to school refreshed, motivated, and truly ready to learn.
Author is a teacher and can be reached at rwani48@gmail.com
