All government schools in Bengal will go into summer recess from Tuesday because of “heat wave and prevailing situation”, the state education department said on Monday.

Education minister Partha Chatterjee said the government was also appealing to private schools to take “appropriate decisions after considering the present situation”.

Bengal is witnessing a surge in Covid-19 cases and has reported more than 5,000 new infections daily over the past few days.

“We are announcing summer vacation from Tuesday. We appeal to private schools to take appropriate decisions after considering the present situation,” said Chatterjee.

A circular issued by education secretary Manish Jain on Monday said: “Due to heat wave and prevailing situation, it is advised to declare summer vacation in the schools under your administrative control with effect from 20/04/2021, until further instructions. You are therefore requested to take necessary action accordingly.”

An official in the education department said summer vacation would mean that online classes would remain suspended for the time being in government schools.

At CBSE and ICSE schools, practical exams for Class XII boards are being held.

“It is for principals to take a call about what they would want to do regarding practicals. The council has given schools time till May 31 to complete the practicals,” said Gerry Arathoon, the chief executive and secretary of the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations, which conducts the ICSE (Class X) and ISC (Class XII) exams.

A number of CBSE schools, however, said they would go ahead with the practicals in the absence of any intimation from the board.

“This is to inform… examinees that the practical examination and viva voce will continue as per schedule, keeping all precautions in mind. Today the State Government has advised schools under the State Board to begin summer holidays from 20.04.21. However there is no specific direction from the CBSE in the matter till now and hence we are unable to stop the ongoing Examinations being conducted in School, keeping the academic interest of the examinees in mind,” said a notice issued by South Point.

The state government had allowed schools to reopen from February 12 for Classes IX to XII. The schools had remained shut since March last year as a precaution against Covid.