The Odisha government on Sunday said it would go ahead with its earlier decision of starting morning classes in schools from Monday.

Principal secretary of school and mass education department, B.P. Sethi, said the government has decided to curtail summer vacation to provide ample opportunity to students to make up losses in studies due to closure of schools on account of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“As ascertained from IMD (the India Meteorological Department), temperature at any station in Odisha by 8.30am is around 32 to 34 degrees Celsius during May, so by 9am, it should not cross 35 degrees,” Sethi said in a statement, adding that the government expects temperature to fall from Sunday.

“We have asked schools to close by 9am after serving meals. The morning classes will commence from 6am,” he said.

Sethi said children will benefit both on account of learning loss recovery lessons and midday meal. Since the government and government-aided schools are located close to the houses of students, there’s no such risk on account of summer heat, Sethi said.

He said morning classes in schools will be from 6am to 9am on Monday after a five-day break because of hot conditions.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a slight drop in the maximum temperature at several places in interior Odisha with Nor’wester becoming active from Sunday.

The Learning Recovery Plan (LRP) prepared by Odisha School Education Programme Authority (OSEPA) will be conducted during this summer vacation.

The LRP will be applicable for government and government-aided schools, an official said.

The students of Classes III-X who are being promoted, including new admissions, and also Class XI students, who will be promoted to Class XII, will be covered under this plan, he said.