Mita Mukherjee

Summer vacation schools in West Bengal will begin early  from May 2 in the wake of the heatwave like situation prevailing in the state, chief minister Mamata Banerjee announced on Wednesday. The decision applies to private schools too, she said.

Summer vacation in government-aided and government-sponsored schools was scheduled to start from May 26 and the schools were to reopen on June 8.  Private schools were supposed to shut down for summer vacation from the second week of May.

Colleges and universities too will be kept shut from May 2 for the soaring temperatures, the chief minister said.

She asked senior officials of the government to ensure that all educational institutions suspend their classes form May 2. The institutions can resume classes between June 15 and 20.

According to her, there were reports that many students were falling ill because of the intense heat.

“I have reports that students are getting nose bleeds. The temperature is rising and students are suffering too much because of the intense heat. Summer vacation in schools, colleges and universities should start from May 2. Ask the private schools to implement this too,” the chief minister said.

The chief minister on Wednesday held a high-level meeting to review the ongoing heat wave-like situation where she announced the early summer vacation in government and private schools, colleges and universities.

The India Meteorological Department on Monday had issued a heat wave warning over several districts in the state and advised students to avoid heat exposure for too long.    

The chief minister today said that the closure of schools will also protect students from chances of contacting Covid 19 in case there is a surge in the number of infections in the state.

“Our vaccination programme for school children will take place and it will be convenient for students if they are administered the vaccine when they stay at home,” the chief minister said.    

Some schools like South Point and St. Augustine’s Day School, Shyamnagar had decided to suspend in-person classes and shifted to online teaching to give respite to students from the scorching sun and some schools have reduced class hours because of the hot spell.

Unlike government aided and government –sponsored schools, it is not mandatory for private schools to abide by government decisions on when to start summer vacation or reopen after it.

Heads of several private schools told EducationWorld that they  were aware of the chief minister’s announcement but they will take a decision only after receiving the government order.

Many government-aided and government-sponsored schools said the first summative exams are supposed to start in their institutions from April 28. Their academic calendar will be affected because of the early summer vacation, they said.

Also read: Kolkata schools shift to online classes due to soaring temperatures