With full reopening of schools across different boards in the state post covid induced closure since March 2020, Jharkhand government announced to alter its academic year from the current session 2022-23 for a period of three years. This means, new academic year in state government affiliated schools will commence from July this season as opposed to the existing practice of April.

Officials in the state school education and literacy department said that the change in academic session cycle will be in force for a period of three years and will be restored back to April cycle from 2025-26 session.

Director of the Jharkhand Education Project Council (JEPC) Kiran Kumari Passi said that the department has decided to extend/alter its academic year to streamline the teaching process in the state run schools. She said, “Due to covid-19 induced closure of schools, entire education system was affected right from proper teaching to completion of syllabus, and other activities mandated per academic year. Hence, to reduce pressure on students and teachers and streamline the academic process, education department has decided to extend its academic year cycle from April to July 1 for 2022-23.”

She however maintained that gradually within three years time, it will be brought back to April, which marks the start of new academic year in the country across different boards.

“We have planned to reduce the extension in academic cycle by one month each year for next three years to restore the earlier process. So, for 2023-24, the new academic cycle will begin from June 1 whereas 24-25 will have May 1 as the commencement date for new session,” she said, adding that examinations too will be tuned according to the new academic pattern.

“Annual exam for class 1-9 and 11 that are taken by the schools will be held in the last month of the every academic year. However, enrolment of students in class 1 has been unchanged and it will happen with effect from April 1 itself during this period and all the new enrolled students too will receive midday meals even as the session will begin with effect from the revised cycle,” she clarified.