In a swift response to severe weather conditions, the district administrations of Gautam Budh Nagar and Ghaziabad have ordered all schools to remain shut until the New Year. The directive, citing dense fog and biting cold, aims to protect students' health but was issued so late that it sparked widespread confusion on Monday morning.
Late-Night Order Triggers Morning Chaos
The official order was circulated close to midnight on Sunday, December 28, 2025. It mandated a holiday for all recognised schools, from nursery to Class 12, across all educational boards, starting from Monday, December 29, and extending through Thursday, January 1, 2026. The directive explicitly stated that while students get a break, teachers and non-teaching staff must report to school as usual.
However, the timing of the announcement left many schools with no opportunity to inform parents in advance. This led to a scramble the next day, with several institutions either opening briefly or deciding to implement the holiday only from Tuesday, December 30.
Schools and Parents Left Scrambling
The delay in communication created real-time difficulties for families. Many children had already been dropped off at bus stops or were en route to school before parents learned of the closure through informal channels.
Bal Bharti School in Noida, in a notice to parents, highlighted the practical challenge. The school stated it received the government order at 7:20 AM on December 29, making it impossible to declare a holiday for that day. Consequently, the school remained open on Monday but announced it would be closed from Tuesday onwards in compliance.
"We already dropped our child at the bus stop when we heard from another parent that schools might be closed," said Rakesh Verma, a parent from Noida's Sector 62, echoing the sentiment of many caught off-guard.
Official Directive and Its Implications
The order from the Gautam Budh Nagar district magistrate was clear in its intent. It read: "In view of dense fog and extreme cold, there will be a holiday from 29.12.2025 to 01.01.2026 in all schools (classes nursery to 12) recognised by all boards operating in the district. The above order should be strictly followed."
The decision follows growing concerns from parents about the health risks associated with sending young children out in such harsh weather conditions, particularly during early morning hours when fog is at its peak and temperatures are lowest.
While the closure prioritises student welfare, the last-minute nature of the order exposed gaps in emergency communication protocols between district authorities, school administrations, and parents. The incident underscores the need for more streamlined systems to disseminate such critical information promptly to avoid future disruption.
