Haryana: Deputy commissioners to decide school closures due to heatwave

NEW DELHI: The Department of School Education, Haryana has issued a memo regarding school closures due to the ongoing heatwave. The decision will be made by the deputy commissioners in each district.

The memo states that the deputy commissioners should assess the weather conditions in their respective districts and by consulting with the District Education Officers (DEOs), District Elementary Education Officers (DEEOs), can decide to close schools on specific days, if necessary. This decision will made for both government and private schools in the district.

The memo further states that this power is delegated to the deputy commissioners until May 31, 2024. The memo also requests that Deputy Commissioners notify the department via email at academicceilhry@gmail.com and psdsestaff@yahoo.com about any school closures decided upon.

“Due to the severe heatwave, the Department of Education has granted all district commissioners the authority to declare holidays in schools. They can decide to give holidays to schools in their district with the advice of DEOs and DEEOs. They will have this authority until May 31,” DPR Haryana posted on X.

Heatwave impact on schools across India

Other schools have also changed their school timing due to heatwaves in the country. In Jharkhand, schools up to Class 8 will be closed due to the heatwave till further notice. Classes 9 to 12 will operate from 7 am to 11:30 am, with no outdoor activities allowed.

Due to intense heat, the district administration of Una, Himachal Pradesh, changed school timings from May 13 for all primary, higher, and senior secondary schools. Tripura government had also extended school holidays by three days until May 1 across all schools, due to the ongoing heatwave.