The Odisha government has announced that all government, government-aided, and private schools in the state will be closed for summer vacation starting April 27, according to the latest update reported by ANI. The decision comes in response to the prevailing heatwave conditions across the state.
Official Duties and Exams to Continue
The government clarified that while regular classes will be suspended, previously scheduled examinations, census-related work, and other official duties will continue as usual. This ensures that academic and administrative processes remain unaffected despite the early closure.
Heatwave Review Leads to Early Vacation
The decision was made a day after the state government indicated it was considering advancing the summer vacation due to rising temperatures. According to The Times of India, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari stated that a final call would be taken after reviewing the heatwave situation. He noted that several districts were recording temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius, with no immediate relief expected. A meeting was held with the Special Relief Commissioner and officials from the School and Mass Education Department and the Higher Education Department to assess the situation.
Usual Schedule Pushed Forward
School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond earlier said that the usual summer vacation schedule runs from May 6 to June 17. However, he added that the dates could be advanced considering the heat conditions. Discussions also included the possibility of closing anganwadi centers if the situation worsened, in which case children would be provided take-home rations instead.
District-Level Measures Already in Place
At the district level, some measures had already been implemented. In Khurda, schools and anganwadi centers were asked to function from 6:30 am to 9:30 am to avoid peak heat hours. In Dhenkanal, all government and private educational institutions, including anganwadis, were closed until further orders due to the heatwave.
Similar Steps in Other States
Other states are also taking similar precautions. In Rajasthan, district administrations have revised school timings due to heatwave alerts issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). In Kota, schools are now operating from 7:30 am to 12:30 pm, while in Jaipur, timings have been changed to morning hours for younger students to reduce exposure to extreme heat. Officials in Rajasthan have reported that temperatures have crossed 40 degrees Celsius in several districts and are expected to rise further. Authorities have warned schools to strictly follow the revised timings, with possible action under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, in case of violations.
The early closure of schools in Odisha reflects a similar concern across the country, as authorities aim to limit students' exposure to harsh weather conditions and ensure their safety.
