TOI Impact: Nagpur collector caps school timings amid severe heatwave

Nagpur: After TOI's incessant campaign on why school timings in Nagpur remained unchanged despite heatwave conditions, Nagpur district collector office on Tuesday finally issued an order capping school timing at 10.30 am. This order is mandatory for all schools, regardless of their board affiliation. Education department officials warned they will act against schools that fail to follow guidelines.The development comes hours after TOI reported that Nagpur schools continued with regular timings even as temperatures hovered over 44 degrees Celsius on certain days. While neighbouring Chandrapur district collector Vasumana Pant swiftly ordered closure of all schools by 11am once temperatures crossed 44 degrees, in Nagpur such an order was awaited.Zafar Khan, a senior academic said, "It is a good decision by the Nagpur district collector and will provide relief to students. However, this should be an annual decision that's planned well in advance, so that the school management can fix their exam and other schedule accordingly. I appreciate TOI's incessant effort in covering the issue as well."Schools said the collector's order was a welcome step. Vipin Taksale, director of St Paul International School, raised concerns about academic impact. "There are two points of view. It's good for students as it gives them time for overall development, but the syllabus will remain incomplete. If the timing is from morning, students will need a tiffin break. How much will they be able to assimilate in half-hour classes? It's good the curtailed timing is for remaining days of April."Many parents feel the govt should have declared holidays as not much teaching can happen in restricted timings. Rahul Srivastava, a parent, said three hours of schooling makes little sense. "It is better they shift to online classes. There are only about five days left before summer vacation starts. And if students leave at 10.30am, they reach home by noon — which is again at peak temperatures. They should hold online classes as was the procedure during Covid," he said.Vrinda Dayma, another parent said, "There is no need for classes now, vacations should be declared. Already the weather is too hot, and it does not make any sense to continue."Vinita Bower, principal of Apostolic English High School, while the order is welcome the problem comes due to sudden change in academic schedule. "We have summer school going on for betterment of some students, so only 50% students are in attendance. To adjust to new timings becomes tough, but the new timings are better," said Bower.Parents earlier raised similar concerns after the collector declared a one-day holiday on Saturday, calling it a stop-gap measure. Mothers of students from Class 4 through Class 10 demanded either a permanent reduction in timings, a shift to 7am-11am to avoid peak heat, or early declaration of summer vacation.(with inputs from Baarsa Deb Barma)