BHOPAL: The days are getting hotter and the entire city is in the grip of a severe heat wave. School students are some of the worst hit by the scorching heat as they return home from school in mid-noon when the heat peaks. Even BJP MLA Rameshwar Sharma is demanding to close schools from Monday due to the extreme heat.
Noticeably, temperature at most places in the state is hovering around 42 to 45 degrees Celsius and according to the metrological department, the mercury is set to rise in the next few days. Free Press spoke to the administration and school managements on what they were doing to protect children from the extreme heat.
“Due to the heat, we have changed the timings of pre primary classes, including nursery, KG I and II. Now it is from 9 to 11am. But the timing of rest of classes is same from 7.20 to 11.50 am. Besides, especially for summer, we have purified water cooler facilities on each floor for students,” said Shailesh Zope, principal, Anand Vihar adding, “We have no plan to close our school now till we get any instructions from the collector. We are fortunate that the collector is very much aware regarding this. So he may take a decision regarding this.”
Abid Mohd Khan, PRO of Bal Bhavan said, “We all have to follow the guideline of the collector. We can’t declare any off suddenly without the collector’s permission. We already changed school timings 15 days ago after getting order from the collector. Now, it is 7 am to 12 pm instead of the normal 7.30 am to 1.45pm,” adding, “also, we are now focussing more on indoor games and activities to protect children from the extreme heat.”
Sunita Saxena, principal, government Subhash HS School said, “Nowadays, examination of Class of 9 to 11 is going on in our school and all students get free by 11.30 am. And as per government order, the timing of all schools is 8 am to 12pm. Also, we have proper water coolers and fans in our school,” adding, “we can’t close school suddenly without getting permission of collector.”
“No, still we didn’t have any instructions from the administration regarding closing schools. If we get, we must follow. Recently, we changed school timings after getting order from the collector,” said Vasundhara Sharma, PRO, St Joseph’s Co-Ed, Arera Colony. RN Sharma, principal of government Kamla Nehru School, TT Nagar said, “Yes, I think schools should be closed due to high temperature. Small children are affected more from it but we can’t close until getting permission of collector.” “No, still we have no plan to close schools,” told Nishant Warwade, collector, Bhopal to The Free Press Journal.
