St. Ann’s College in Mehdipatnam revises timings from 11 am to 4 pm, draws ire of students, parents

Hyderabad: A recent decision by St. Ann’s College for Women, Mehdipatnam, to alter its academic schedule mid-course has drawn strong criticism from students and parents, particularly those of final-year BCom and BA students. The revised college hours—from 11 am to 4 pm—have replaced the earlier 8:30 am to 2 pm schedule that had been in place when students were first admitted.

Mid-course timing change sparks discontent

The change, reportedly introduced after a new principal took charge, has raised concerns about its practicality and timing. Parents say they were neither informed in advance nor consulted before the change was implemented.

“This timing neither qualifies as a morning shift nor an afternoon one. It disrupts the entire routine of students who have followed the previous schedule for two years,” said Shahana Sultan, mother of a final-year BCom student, speaking to NewsMeter.

“When selecting colleges, we carefully considered both reputation and timing. This sudden adjustment mid-course feels unfair and poorly planned,” she said.

Logistical challenges for families

Parents argue that the revised timing causes logistical issues, especially for families with multiple children attending different educational institutions.

“School and college transport was planned based on the original timing. Now, we are left struggling to coordinate pickups and drops,” another parent shared, requesting anonymity. “Not to mention, these new hours waste productive morning time and make students lethargic by the time they reach college.”

Students have also echoed similar concerns, saying the late start leads to a less efficient day and heightened fatigue during afternoon lectures.

Lack of communication from the college

Multiple parents have claimed they reached out to the college administration but have received no official response or explanation. Emails and letters to the college principal have reportedly gone unanswered.

Sahana Sultan, who wrote to the principal about the matter, shared a portion of her letter: “Starting the day so late leads to an unproductive use of the morning hours. Students will find it difficult to stay focused when their most alert time is spent waiting for college to begin.”

She further added, “This change, especially in the final year of the course, completely disrupts students’ academic rhythm and personal schedules.”

Wider concerns on student well-being

This issue also feeds into a broader concern parents are raising across various institutions—about increasing academic hours and how that affects students’ overall well-being.

Appeal to reconsider the decision

In their appeal, the parents are not asking for radical reform but a return to the agreed-upon structure. “We are only asking the college to restore the original timing of 8:30 am to 2 pm, which was one of the reasons we chose this institution in the first place,” Sultan said.

Despite mounting pressure, the college has yet to issue any official statement or respond to the concerns raised.

This is a developing story. Attempts to reach the college principal for comment were unsuccessful at the time of publishing. The article will be updated with the college’s statement as soon as they respond.

Show quoted text