West Bengal Government Advisory Allows Schools to Change Timings due to Heatwave

Schools in West Bengal reopened on June 10 after the long summer break, but the oppressive heat continues to wreak havoc across various districts. The relentless high temperatures have prompted the Directorate of School Education, Government of West Bengal to issue an advisory, urging government, government-aided, and government-sponsored schools to modify their schedules to better cope with the extreme weather.

According to the advisory, schools are now permitted to adjust their class timings for the remainder of June after consulting with local authorities and considering the prevailing weather conditions. However, essential activities like the midday meal program must remain unchanged.

This directive applies not only to primary schools but also to secondary and higher secondary institutions. Earlier this week, the Hooghly District Primary School Council announced an indefinite change in school hours, shifting classes to 6.30 AM to 11.00 AM to mitigate the impact of the heat.

Chandan Maiti, General Secretary of the Advanced Society for Headmasters and Headmistresses, emphasized the need for the Education Department to ensure schools can continue to operate flexibly in the future. He pointed out that the current summer vacation is insufficient for a region with such a hot climate and urged the department to schedule vacations more effectively.

The same advisory was also issued by the East and West Burdwan District Primary School Councils, sparking further debate within the educational community.

As West Bengal grapples with the searing heat, the focus remains on balancing the health and safety of students and staff with the continuity of education.