Several districts across Assam reschedule school hours to protect health and safety of students in the wake of plummeting mercury levels
As a biting cold wave continues to sweep across Assam, students and parents across several districts of the State have expressed a collective sigh of relief with the district administrations deciding to reschedule school timings and, in some areas, extend closures.
The mercury has plummeted significantly over the first week of January, with temperatures in cities like Guwahati dipping nearly 6oC below the seasonal normal. Thick blankets of fog have made early morning commutes hazardous and uncomfortable for school-going children.
Revised Schedules Across Districts
District administrations, exercising the authority granted by the Education Department, have issued localized orders to safeguard student health.
Kamrup & Kamrup (Metro): After a week-long closure that ended yesterday (Jan 6), schools reopened today (Jan 7) with a delayed start. Primary schools now operate from 10 am to 1:30 pm, Upper Primary schools from 10 am to 2 pm while Secondary and Senior Secondary classes run until 2:30 pm.
Dibrugarh, Morigaon, Lakhimpur, Dhemaji and other districts: Similar directives have been issued, pushing the start time to 10:00 am to avoid the peak morning chill while the closing time has been kept unchanged.
Bongaigaon & Nalbari: Given the intensity of the fog, these districts have opted for a complete closure of schools until January 10.
Dima Hasao: Educational institutions in the hill district will remain closed for a longer duration, until January 17.
Student and Parent Reactions
The move has been met with widespread approval. “The early morning fog was so dense that visibility on the roads was nearly zero,” Trishnaav Sharma, a Class 10 student in Guwahati, said.
“Schools starting at 10 am means we don’t have to shiver in the bus, and we can actually focus on our lessons rather than the cold,” Bhargavee Chakraborty, a Class 6 student, told News Live.
Parents have echoed this sentiment, noting that the extreme weather was leading to increased cases of seasonal flu among younger children.
“It was becoming a struggle to get my seven-year-old ready at 7 am in this weather. This delay is a very practical and humane decision,” a parent in Dibrugarh told News Live.
Exam Schedules Remain Unchanged
While daily classes have been adjusted, authorities have clarified that all pre-scheduled examinations will proceed as originally planned to ensure the academic calendar remains on track.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts that the cold wave conditions and moderate fog will persist for the next 48 to 72 hours, urging citizens to take necessary precautions.
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