Odisha Schools Update Hours Amid Heat Wave, Return to Regular Schedule

The Odisha government announced that schools will revert to their regular timetable from June 22, adjusting hours due to ongoing hot and humid weather conditions as forecasted by the IMD. The School and Mass Education Minister mentioned decisions would be based on the prevailing weather, emphasizing local discretion for scheduling.

The Odisha government announced on Thursday that schools will revert to their regular timetable from June 22, following a temporary adjustment in hours due to extreme heat and humidity, as predicted by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). On June 21, schools will operate from 6.30 am to 10.30 am to mitigate the impact of the weather.

Schools had resumed on June 17 and 18 after the summer break. School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond stated that decisions regarding school operations would continue to be reassessed based on the prevailing weather conditions. Local district collectors were instructed to decide on school reopening or schedule changes for classes 1 to 12, across government, aided, and private institutions, based on regional weather forecasts.

The IMD has predicted sustained hot and humid weather in some districts until June 21. A gradual decrease in daytime temperatures by 2-3 degrees Celsius is expected over the next three days as the southwest monsoon progresses, offering some relief to the region.