Private schools that had started in-person classes or were about to do so shifted to online classes because, several of them said, they did not want to be seen as defying the government.
The schools said that not following the government order on a fresh extension of the summer vacation could be perceived as defiance.
The state education department had on Monday extended the summer vacation in schools, except the ones in the hill districts of Darjeeling and Kalimpong, by 11 days - till June 26 - citing “extreme heatwave conditions”.
Some of the schools that were scheduled to reopen this week decided on Tuesday to have online classes instead. Some had made the decision hours after the government order was circulated on Monday.
The bishop of the Calcutta diocese of the Church of North India (CNI) said the mention of “reports of a few death cases due to heat and humidity” in the order prompted them to opt for online classes.
“We did not want to risk the safety of the children. If any untoward incident happens, we will be told that the government had already warned us,” said Reverend Paritosh Canning, who is also the chairman of the schools run by the CNI in the diocese.
“But we will keep watch on the weather and if there is any improvement in conditions, we will take a fresh call.”
An official in the office of the district inspector of schools in Kolkata said they were “happy that private schools had decided to act in deference to what the government has decided”.
The La Martiniere schools, St James’ School, Indus Valley World School, South Point (up to Class V) and DPS New Town decided on Tuesday to conduct online classes, officials of the schools said.
The La Martiniere schools and Indus Valley had in-person classes on Tuesday.
South Point school issued a notice to parents on Tuesday informing them about online classes.
By Monday night, the office of the district inspector of schools had mailed the government circular on the extension of summer vacation to all 252 private schools in Calcutta.
“Had any school continued with in-person classes for several days, it could have been viewed as an act of aberration,” said the official.
Several private schools had in early May received calls from government officials, who asked the institutions to go for an early summer break in deference to an order from the government or switch to online classes.
Private schools were wary of receiving such calls again and so decided to switch to online classes.
“We do not want to go into that space again,” said a school head.
Another principal said: “It amounts to interference in the freedom and flexibility of a private school…. We see certain things not happening as they should.”
Sujoy Biswas, principal of Rammohan Mission High School, said: “We were scheduled to open on June 13 and changed it to June 15 after a government notification. Now we are again changing it to June 27. Students are disappointed.”
Terence Ireland, principal, St James’ School, said: “Classroom teaching can be disrupted and we have to go back to the next best option. We have to be prepared for any eventuality.”