AGARTALA, March 5 (TIWN): Tripura government is keen on changing school timings for better utilisation of daylight and allow students more time for extracurricular activities. The day breaks early in the northeastern states with the sun rising and setting at least 60-90 minutes ahead of western and southern states.

"The sun rises and sets early in the northeastern states. As the country follows the IST (Indian Standard Time), the people of the region has been wasting a lot of daylight," Tripura Education and Law Minister Ratanlal Nath said. 

To better use daylight and provide more scope to students and teachers for extracurricular activities, the Tripura government would like to change schools timings from 11 a.m. to 8 a.m., Nath said. 

A high-level committee has been set up to study the issue. After the committee submits its report, the government would take a final decision, he added.

He, however, admitted to some infrastructural problems in 800 schools in the state. "Before introducing the new timings, the government will try to provide suitable infrastructure and teachers," Nath said.

The minister said the state government has launched a programme, "Natun Disha" (new direction), to assess the academic level of students in classes III to VIII. "The scheme also encourages interaction between teachers and parents for improving education quality and resolving other issues," he said.

On March 3, the first day of the teacher-guardian interactive meet, 2,18,484 guardians of 3.20 lakh students discussed and resolved petty issues, the minister said.

Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb and Nath also visited several schools and observed the interaction. THe "Natun Disha" scheme would surely yield positive results and improve the quality of education in Tripura, he added.