Summary
On Monday, Met office issued heatwave alert for western districts of Bengal, Calcutta and neighbouring areas will be reeling under hot and uncomfortable weather till April 5
Several schools that have started the new academic session or will do so in the next couple of days have decided to suspend outdoor activities because of the weather.
A few schools started the academic session in the third week of March and some in the first week of April anticipating an early onset of summer which might force them to bring forward the summer break.
But the heat has struck even earlier.
On Monday, the Met office issued a heatwave alert for the western districts of Bengal. Calcutta and neighbouring areas will be reeling under hot and uncomfortable weather till April 5, it said.
“Children are not allowed to go out and play during the day. They are being engaged in indoor activities,” said Seema Sapru, The Heritage School.
“Only senior children, from Class IX upwards, are doing their sports in the morning. It is over by 8.30am,” said Sapru.
At Frank Anthony Public School, which started on Tuesday, the physical training (PT) teachers have been asked to take classes in the hall.
“During breaks, we allow them to move out of the classrooms because we cannot keep them inside throughout the day. But we encourage them to sit in shades or under a tree,” said Ian Myers, principal of Frank Anthony Public School.
Both St James’ School and Loreto Day School Elliot Road have their first day of class on Wednesday. They have decided to suspend outdoor activities, especially those scheduled after 10am.
“This kind of weather is sad and worrying and we hope it is a temporary phase and the temperature will be lower than what it is now. We started early so we could get some work done. It is not just about completing the syllabus but also giving children time and space for extracurricular activities,” said Jessica Gomes Surana, principal, Loreto Day School Elliot Road.
“At the beginning of the session, one wants school to be vibrant rather than morose with only classroom activities. This is dampening for children,” said Gomes Surana.
Many children look forward to the school playground to run around, especially in the absence of grounds to play nearer home.
“They haven’t been playing for some time (because of the final exams and session break), and suddenly if they are exposed to direct sunlight, children might not be able to sustain and may fall ill far more quickly,” said Terence Ireland, principal of St James’ School.
St Augustine’s Day School Shyamnagar, which started its session in the third week of March, issued a circular for parents and guardians, on Tuesday.
The school said it was suspending outdoor activities and shifting co-curricular activities to school halls for the “safety of our students”.
“We further recommend that parents and guardians should avoid over-exposure to direct sunlight over a prolonged period. Kindly ensure overall health and safety through simple precautions as we rely on your continued support for the education of our students,” said the circular from the principal, Rodney Borneo.
Last updated on 03 Apr 2024
