According to a government school teacher,”The final examinations of different classes(including the Board classes) are going to start by March, and students will be given preparatory holidays after next week. This way, only one week will be left with the teachers for conducting many activities under this programme. Students are preparing for their exams, and will not take much interest in these activities.”

Gurcharan Kaur Thind, a master trainer of the programme, agrees that the refresher programme has been delayed, and sufficient time is not left for conducting activities for the students.”

Pardeep Kumar Kapoor, District Science Supervisor Ludhiana said, “We have trained about 300 teachers from 150 government schools, and told them to conduct activities like chart making, declamation contests, quiz, rallies, slogan writing etc.”

But will these teachers be able to hold these activities in examination days? Says Kapoor, “I have told the teachers to conduct two activities. Our problem is that we got the funds as well as the schedule for conducting this refresher programme only now. So we have given Rs 500 to each school for conducting these events.”

Sources say most women teachers are not comfortable attending the lectures delivered by resource persons. They sit through the lectures passively, or while away their time.