In response to a severe and intensifying cold wave, the majority of districts in Bihar have announced an extension of the suspension of academic activities for students up to Class VIII. The decision, prompted by repeated warnings from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) about plummeting temperatures and hazardous fog, is being enforced using legal provisions to ensure student safety.
Legal Framework and State-Wide Directive
District administrations across the state have invoked Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, to mandate the closure of educational institutions. This order applies uniformly to government and private schools, pre-schools, anganwadi centres, and coaching institutes. The primary objective is to mitigate health risks for young children exposed to the extreme weather conditions.
District-Wise Breakdown of Closures and Restrictions
The specific directives vary slightly from district to district, though the core mandate remains the protection of students from the cold.
In the state capital, Patna, District Magistrate Thiyagarajan S M has ordered all schools up to Class VIII to remain closed until January 8. This follows a sharp drop in temperature and dense fog severely impacting visibility. For older students in classes IX to XII, academic activities are permitted only within a restricted timeframe from 10:30 am to 3:30 pm.
East Champaran has implemented even stricter measures. District Magistrate Saurabh Jorwal has suspended all educational activities up to Class XII until January 7, citing severe cold waves and icy westerly winds.
Other key districts have announced similar shutdowns:
- Buxar: District Magistrate Sahila ordered closures for schools up to Class VIII from January 5 to January 8.
- Bhagalpur: District Magistrate Nawal Kishor Chaudhary shut schools up to Class VIII until January 8, pointing to extreme cold and hazardous fog.
- Gaya: District Magistrate Shashank Shubhankar restricted classes up to Class V until January 7. Classes VI and above can function only between 10 am and 2 pm.
- Bhojpur: Academic activities for classes I to VIII are prohibited on January 5 and 6. Higher classes are restricted to a 10 am to 3 pm schedule.
- Muzaffarpur and Rohtas: Both districts have suspended all academic activities up to Class VIII until January 7.
Exemptions and Enforcement
Recognizing crucial academic commitments, authorities across all affected districts have exempted special classes and examinations related to board and pre-board schedules from these blanket restrictions. To ensure compliance, block development officers and police station heads have been instructed to monitor the situation strictly. This enforcement aims to prevent cold-related health issues among the student population.
The widespread closures underscore the administration's proactive steps in dealing with the challenging weather, prioritizing the well-being of children over routine academic schedules during this period of intense cold.
