The West Bengal Board of Secondary Education instructed state-run and state-aided educational institutions to adjust school hours due to the extreme heat affecting much of the state. Following a communique from the school education department on June 11, the board’s advisory suggested that upper primary, secondary, and higher secondary schools work with stakeholders to modify school hours without disrupting the academic calendar or mid-day meal program.
The advisory emphasised the importance of considering local ‘weather conditions’ when making such decisions, according to WBBSE deputy secretary Rhitabrata Chatterjee.
Cities and districts in south Bengal, including North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly, Purba Medinipur, Paschim Medinipur, Purulia, Bankura, Jhargram, Purba Bardhaman, Paschim Bardhaman, Birbhum, Murshidabad and Nadia, have been experiencing hot and humid weather with temperatures ranging from 35-40 degrees Celsius.
Although the advisory did not specify any particular region, a school education department official clarified that the communique aimed to address the difficulties faced by children attending classes in the extreme heat, which often leads to illness.
The official further noted that many primary and upper primary schools had already adjusted their class schedules to the morning hours.
“Many primary and upper primary schools have already rescheduled classes to the morning hours. We have enabled every institution, including secondary and higher secondary levels, to adjust class hours as needed for the benefit of students and teaching/non-teaching staff until the weather conditions improve,” the official added.
(With inputs from PTI)