Chandigarh, May 11
A decision taken in a tearing hurry by the Punjab Education Minister, Mr Harnam Dass Johar, with regard to the closure of schools for the summer vacation has upset parents and their wards.

Owing to the faux pas on the part of Mr Johar, teachers, who were to give homework to students for the summer break, failed to do so as the closure was ordered in haste. " What will our wards do for 50 days during the summer vacation without any homework to do?" This is the question which was frequently asked by parents at most places. Already, the education system is in a shambles in most of the government schools in the state.

Actually, the Education Department had decided to close the schools for the summer vacation from May 15. However, yesterday Mr Johar, who was perhaps in Delhi, rang up the authorities concerned to declare the summer vacation immediately. Obeying the orders of the Education Minister, the authorities gave instructions to the District Education Officers and a statement to the media yesterday was issued closing the schools from today. Consequently, teachers were unable to give homework as the decision came virtually out of the blue for them.

Normally, in all government schools teachers give homework a day before the closure of schools for the summer holidays.

Sources said that at certain places parents had contacted the Deputy Commissioners requesting them to find a way out to give homework to the students.