According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), April, 2024, has started with El Nino conditions, leading to heatwave conditions in various parts of India, either localized or widespread. As a result, numerous schools across the country are shutting down, announcing early summer vacations, or changing their schedules.
Here’s a list of the states where school closures have occurred:
In Jharkhand, the Department of School Education and Literacy has issued a notice stating that all schools up to class 8 are closed, and the hours for grades 9 to 12 have been changed to 7 am to 11:30 am until further notice.
Additionally, outdoor activities like prayers and sports have been suspended for the same reasons.
The notice and subsequent holidays do not apply to teachers and non-teaching staff of government, government-aided, unaided, and minority schools.
The department in an official notice stated that due to the extreme heat and heatwave conditions in Jharkhand, and keeping in mind the possibility of adverse health effects, classes from KG up to class 8 in all government aided, non-government aided, and all private schools are postponed till further orders.
In Bihar, the Patna district administration has banned academic activities for Class 10, including pre-schools and Anganwadi centers, from 10:30 AM to 4 PM due to severe heat. Additionally, academic activities for Class 11 and 12 are also prohibited from 11:30 AM to 4 PM because of the intense heatwave.
The district magistrate asked all schools to comply with the order from May 1 to May 8.
West Bengal: Due to the ongoing heatwave across the region, West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu has moved up the start of summer vacation to April 22, 2024 for all government and government-aided schools, except in Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts. Originally, summer vacation was scheduled to begin on May 6, 2024. The Education Minister also urged private schools to start their summer vacations earlier.
Maharashtra: In response to intense heatwaves, the Maharashtra government earlier in April announced an early start to the summer vacation for all primary, middle, and higher schools. Schools will reopen on June 15, 2024 except in the Vidarbha region where they will reopen on June 30, 2024.
Chhattisgarh: The Chhattisgarh Department of School Education has declared an early start to the summer vacation for all government, aided, and non-aided schools in the state, beginning April 22 and lasting until June 15, 2024. This decision was made to protect the health of students amid the current heatwave.
Originally, the summer vacation was set to start on May 1, 2024. However, a circular issued on April 24, 2024 specifies that this early closure does not apply to teachers.
Delhi: In response to the escalating heatwave, the Delhi government has circulated guidelines for school authorities and parents. Summer vacation for all government-aided schools is set from May 1 to June 15, 2024.
The circular includes several preventive actions, such as banning outdoor assemblies in the afternoons, canceling all outdoor activities during heatwave conditions, and prohibiting classes held outdoors.
Schools are required to ensure that students have access to clean drinking water and are given regular water breaks. Additionally, first-aid kits must include Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS), and parents should make sure their children wear head coverings when they step outside in the sun.
Previously, from April 24 to April 27, 2024, the Tripura Education Department had closed schools, extending the closure until May 1, 2024. The department also recommended that people avoid going out in the sun and stay hydrated.
In Meghalaya, the deputy commissioner of West Garo Hills canceled classes for nursery and pre-primary students on April 29 and 30, 2024. The school hours for primary, secondary, and higher secondary students were adjusted to 6:30 am to 10:30 am, lasting until May 1, 2024. However, these schedule changes did not affect night shift schools, which remained to operate normally.
(Picture Credit – Time)
