Heatwave in India: School hours curtailed as mercury soars; state-wise revised timings

NEW DELHI: Owing to heatwave conditions across India, various states have revised school timings and issued guidelines to save students from heat strokes, and energy drainage. Several states and Union territories such as Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana have changed school timings for some or all classes owing to heatwave.

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The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had earlier this week said a fresh spell of heatwave is likely to begin over northwest India from May 7 and over central India from May 8. While closing schools due to heatwave is not an option as suggested by experts as offline classes have started from the new session after nearly two years due to the Covid-induced pandemic.

State-wise school timings

Delhi NCR

Revising school timings, restricting outdoor activities, stocking ORS and glucose sachets, and constantly motivating children to stay hydrated are among the steps schools are taking because of the heatwave conditions in the national capital region (NCR).

Haryana

The Haryana state directorate of school education has revised the school timing of government and private schools in the state due to the heatwave condition. As per an order from the DSE, the class timings will be from 7 am to 12 pm for Classes 1 to 12. The order came into effect from Wednesday, May 4, 2022.

Rajasthan

Many districts in Rajasthan such as Jaipur, Ajmer, Sikar, Churu and Jodhpur have revised school timings due to the heatwave situation in the state, with the temperature going up to 45 degrees celsius. In the Jaipur district, the school timings for Classes 1 to 8 have been scheduled from 7:30 am to 11 am. The revised timings have to be followed by both government and private schools, as per a report from the Times of India.

Jharkhand

The Jharkhand government has changed school timings for pre-primary, primary, classes 1 to 12 in all government and private schools in almost all districts due to heatwave. The government has kept school timings as 6am to 12 noon for Classes 1 to 12 whereas timings for nursery and pre-primary classes are upto 11am.

Bihar

Bihar government changed the school timings in certain districts due to the increasing temperature and heat waves in the state. Patna and the Gaya district administration have announced that offline classes will be conducted in all government and private schools from 6:30 am to 11:30 am with effect from today, April 4. The revised schedule in Bihar schools will be in place till the schools close for summer vacations.

Andhra Pradesh

The Andhra Pradesh government changed the school timing from Classes 1 to 9 with effect from April 4, 2022, owing to the heatwave in the state. Andhra Pradesh schools will follow a half-day schedule for Classes 1 to 9 students from 7:30 am to 11:30 am. Offline classes will continue with a full-day schedule for students studying in Classes 10, 11, and 12 with a full-day schedule.

Telangana

Telangana school timings were reduced to 8:00 am to 11:30 am from March 31 to April 6, 2022, as per an order by the director of school education due to a possible heatwave predicted by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Mid-day meals were provided to the students before 11:30 am. The state government had also implemented half-day in schools from March 15 till the last working day. As per the decision, schools were to function from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm.