In a relief to students, the Director of Matriculation Schools has directed private schools in the state to avoid holding special classes before and after school hours for students of Classes X, XI, and XII.

According to a Times of India report, the decision was taken after a parent filed a complaint with the Directorate, stating that the long hours affect students physically and mentally.

The communication states that students can benefit from education only if they are physically and mentally sound, the newspaper reports.

Earlier this month, the Director of Matriculation Schools had also asked private schools to avoid conducting special classes for competitive exams such as NEET during school hours.

Speaking to TOI, R Visalakshi, President of the Tamil Nadu Private Schools Association, said that sufficient breaks were provided and that students were not overburdened, insisting that not conducting special classes would affect students at the end of the year.

“If we are not allowed to conduct special classes, we have to get consent letters from willing parents and conduct special classes for those students alone,” she told TOI.

Private schools believe that special classes are for the benefit of the students.

J Martin Kennedy, a member of the Tamil Nadu Private Schools Association, added: “Too many special classes are a hindrance for students, yes. But for competitive exams like NEET and JEE, special classes are needed”.

This is not the first time special classes in schools have been barred by the government. Earlier this year, School Education Minister KA Sengottaiyan asked schools not to conduct special classes after the government declares summer vacation.

In April this year, the Department of Public Instruction, Thiruvananthapuram, instructed government, aided and unaided schools to not conduct special classes during the summer vacation, pointing out that the break is required for the physical and mental well-being of the students.