Assam schools in Kamrup district to remain closed from September 24 to 27 due to extreme heat

NEW DELHI: Due to high temperatures and extreme heat, the District Elementary Education Officer (DEEO) of Kamrup (Metro) has issued an order to close all government, provincialized, and private schools in the district from September 24 to September 27, 2024. This decision comes after numerous reports from school authorities regarding incidents of students experiencing health issues such as fainting and dehydration due to the excessive heat.

The official notification, released by the DEEO’s office in collaboration with the district mission oordinator, Sarba Siksha Abhiyan (SSA), Kamrup (Metro), emphasized that the health and safety of the students are of paramount concern.

Assam School Closure: Emphasis on student health and and well-being

The notice further mentioned that this preventive measure is necessary to protect students from the adverse effects of the rising temperatures, which have already led to cases of heat-related illness.

The official order read, “it has been decided that all Govt/ Provincialized/ Private schools functioning under Kamrup Metro district are to remain close from 24th to 27th September 2024 due to excessive heat and rising temperature in the district. This decision has been taken in order to safeguard the students from the ill-effects of exposure to excessive heat and thereby, ensuring the health and well-being of the students. This order comes with immediate effect.”

Assam announces APAAR roll out

Assam is introducing the Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) ID, a 12-digit unique digital identity for school students. This initiative, in line with the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020, aims to streamline academic records, improve tracking, and reduce dropout rates. The APAAR ID, linked to the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) and DigiLocker, will allow students to digitally store their academic documents. Education Minister Ranoj Pegu announced the rollout on social media, urging parents to give consent for creating the APAAR ID during Parent-Teacher Meetings (PTMs). The ID will only be generated for students with a valid Aadhar ID and a Permanent Education Number (PEN).

Assam Schools: Mandatory parental consent for APAAR ID creation

Om Prakash, IAS, Mission Director of Samagra Shiksha, Assam, has instructed district-level education officers to begin the process of generating APAAR IDs through the UDISE+ portal. Written parental consent is mandatory, and schools will organize PTMs to collect this consent. The initiative is part of the “One Nation, One Student ID” program, which supports NEP 2020’s vision of a unified system for tracking student progress and digitalizing academic records across India. District officials will train headteachers and nodal teachers to ensure smooth implementation of this transformative project.