Summary
The official added that schools affiliated to the CBSE board and the ICSE council would be also requested to start the summer vacation from April 22
The summer vacation in government and government-aided schools has been brought forward and will start on April 22 because of the heat spell, education minister Bratya Basu said on Wednesday evening.
The vacation was scheduled to start from May 6.
Several private schools, too, have brought forward their summer break by about a week ahead of the usual date. The schools usually close in the second or third week of May.
Sources in the school education department said chief minister Mamata Banerjee spoke to them about bringing the summer vacation forward in the wake of the heat wave alert on Wednesday.
After getting the nod from the chief minister, the education minister announced that the summer vacation was being brought forward, an official said.
The official added that schools affiliated to the CBSE board and the ICSE council would be also requested to start the summer vacation from April 22.
Several private schools already took the decision while planning the academic calendar for 2024-25. Many of them have included some working Saturdays to make up for what they will miss during the longer summer break.
Some private schools said they were mulling a change where an extended summer break could be made up for by cutting down winter and Puja breaks.
Calcutta International School, Frank Anthony Public School, Mahadevi Birla World Academy and Sri Sri Academy are closing for summer around a week to two weeks earlier than they usually do every year.
“We have made a change in our academic calendar because of the change in weather pattern. Instead of closing all of a sudden, we thought it is best to schedule it in our calendar,” said Ian Myers, principal, Frank Anthony Public School.
The school is closing for summer from May 3 and will reopen only in the second week of June, extending the summer break by almost two weeks.
“We have cut down on the winter break — instead of a month, we would have only two weeks now. It is better for children to work in winter rather than in the height of summer,” said Myers.
Mahadevi Birla World Academy and Sri Sri Academy are closing about a week early.
“We anticipated that the heat would become increasingly unbearable. We adjusted our academic calendar and are working on a few Saturdays to make up for the week lost,” said Anjana Saha, principal, Mahadevi Birla World Academy.
“For the past couple of years, we have been seeing that we had to close early or switch to online classes because of the heat,” said Saha.
In the past two years, the schools had to shut down or shift to online classes because of a state government order following a heat spell.
Calcutta International School has increased the summer break by eight days.
“We kept last year in mind before making the change. Also, this is the end of the academic session for us, so there is no loss of teaching. We begin our new session in the second week of June,” said Pratima Nayar, principal, junior school, Calcutta International School.
Not all schools have made the change.
Some of them are conducting meetings to discuss the need for a change in the daily schedule and disperse early.
The change in weather makes it imperative that schools think about rescheduling the summer holidays, said Jessica Gomes Surana, principal, Loreto Day School Elliot Road.
“It would not be cooler but only hotter. It is not effective learning when it is too hot,” she said.
St James’ School, too, is contemplating a change in schedule.
“We have to rework our calendar and close for six weeks during summer instead of four and cut down on the winter break,” said Terence Ireland, principal, St James’ School.
Most of the older schools do not have air-conditioned classrooms and thickwalls and high ceilings are the only respites.
But these are failing to make the classrooms comfortable in this heat.
“Air-conditioned classrooms are not an alternative. And extended summer break or different summer timings are options that can be looked into,” said Aruna Gomes, principal, Loreto House.
Some of the schoolshave made changes despite having air-conditioned classrooms.
“Many children use carpools, which are not air-conditioned, and it is uncomfortable travelling in this heat. Also, during dispersal at 1pm, the discomfort level is high among students and parents who come to pick up children,” said Gargi Banerjee, principal, Sri Sri Academy.
Last updated on 18 Apr 2024
