Odisha: Govt mulls rethink on short summer break for schools in view of Covid-19 situation

Bhubaneswar: The state government on Friday said it might tweak its decision to shorten the summer vacation and keep schools open in May in view of the rising Covid cases in Delhi, NCR and other parts of the country.
The government had shortened the summer vacation to two weeks in schools, colleges and universities to help students complete the courses whose progress was affected due to the pandemic.
School and mass education minister Samir Ranjan Das said, “We are mulling some changes to vacation norms that were initially introduced to help students make up the courses. But we have received several objections from many quarters. If at all we make any change to the decision, we will do so on the ground of health. Covid situation is stable in the state but in view of the emerging trend elsewhere in the country, it may influence our decision to change the summer vacation schedule,” he told TOI adding that all examinations including that of classes X and XII will be held as per schedule.
State health authorities have raised concern regarding the Covid situation in other places of the country and have written to the districts collectors and civic bodies to remain alert and start taking decisions to impose or relax restrictions based on evidence.
However, there is no reason to panic at the moment, they said.