In a concerning development that puts student safety at risk, numerous schools in Chandigarh and the surrounding Tricity area are reportedly flouting official winter timings. Despite clear directives from the UT school education department, students are being compelled to report much earlier than the stipulated 8:20 AM, forcing them to commute during peak fog hours when visibility is dangerously low.
Official Timings Ignored, Early Reporting Enforced
The department had regulated winter schedules for government and government-aided schools, setting a reporting time of 8:20 AM to avoid the hazardous morning fog. However, on the ground, the reality is starkly different. Many students across the city are being asked to reach their schools between 7:50 AM and 7:55 AM. A government schoolteacher even admitted to this practice, citing traffic management as a reason, stating that calling children before 8 AM helps avoid peak office-going traffic.
The situation is even more pronounced in private schools, most of which continue with largely unchanged early schedules. Parents report that many private institutions ask students to report around 7:55 AM, with classes starting as early as 8 AM or by 8:30 AM. Instead of delaying timings for safety, several schools have reportedly removed morning assemblies to accommodate the early start.
Parental Angst Peaks After Mohali Bus Collision
The issue has moved from one of inconvenience to one of grave safety, especially after a recent alarming incident. In Mohali, two school buses collided head-on in dense fog, leaving five persons injured, including three children. This incident has intensified fears among parents, particularly those residing in Mohali, Kharar, and their outskirts.
Parents argue that early timings force children onto the roads during the thickest fog, when visibility drops sharply and traffic movement is slow, completely defeating the purpose of the winter schedule change. Mandeep Singh, a parent from Sector 105, Mohali, said school buses reach his area around 7 AM. "We still have to send children because attendance rules are strict, but this side is far more foggy and visibility is dangerously low," he expressed.
Echoing his concerns, Gaganjot Sandhu from Sector 125, Kharar highlighted the persistent risk. "Even if bus drivers are careful, there is always fear because anything can happen on these roads after yesterday's incident," Sandhu stated, reflecting the heightened anxiety in the community.
Authorities Promise Action, Parents Seek Stricter Enforcement
When contacted, Director of School Education, Nitish Singla, clarified that government institutions must strictly follow the ordered timing. "Govt schools cannot ask students to report earlier than the decided time. If it is happening anywhere, it will be seen and appropriate action will be taken," he asserted.
Regarding private schools, Singla mentioned the situation is being monitored. "Weather is fine as of now and if need be, in the coming days, we will regulate timings of private schools and govt schools too," he added. However, with fog conditions persisting and the morning commute remaining challenging, parents are not convinced.
They insist the core issue is now unequivocally about child safety rather than convenience or routine. The community is calling for stricter enforcement of the winter timings and an end to informal adjustments made by school administrations that compromise the well-being of students on treacherous, fog-ridden roads.
