In response to a severe and ongoing cold spell, education authorities in Assam have ordered the temporary closure of all government-run schools in the Kamrup (Metropolitan) district for one week. The directive, issued on Tuesday, will keep schools shut until January 6, 2024, to protect students from the harsh weather conditions.
Official Advisory and Temperature Plunge
The decision was formally communicated by Kamrup (Metro) Inspector of Schools, Dipika Choudhury, through an advisory sent to the heads of government and provincialised schools. The advisory explicitly cited the prevailing cold weather conditions and the need to prioritize the health and safety of students as the primary reasons for the week-long closure.
The advisory strictly instructed school heads to ensure that no academic or co-curricular activities take place during this period. It further stated that private schools are advised to decide for themselves in the best interest of their students, granting them autonomy in this matter. Notably, many private institutions in Greater Guwahati, which falls under this district, are already observing a brief winter break.
The official action follows a significant drop in temperatures across the region. On Tuesday, Guwahati recorded a maximum temperature of only 18.1 degrees Celsius, which is a substantial 6.4 degrees Celsius below the normal average for this time of year.
Teachers' Association Highlights Ground Realities
The government's move comes after mounting pressure from teachers' groups concerned about student welfare. Earlier on Tuesday, the Assam State Primary Teachers’ Association had written to State Education Minister Ranoj Pegu, urging him to suspend primary school classes due to the intense cold over the past week.
In the letter, signed by association president Nilakshi Gogoi and general secretary Ratul Chandra Goswami, the body argued that conditions were unbearable for primary school children. They highlighted their long-pending, unfulfilled demand for providing sweaters, shoes, and socks to students. Goswami revealed that an agreement to supply these items was reached with the education minister back in 2021 but has yet to be implemented.
The letter also painted a vivid picture of the extreme measures taken to cope with the cold. Many government schools have been forced to light fires outdoors to conduct classes, as indoor heating is often unavailable. "Many schools, including ours, could conduct the classes by lighting fire outside classrooms since the drop in temperature was intolerable for small kids in primary schools," Goswami added.
Implications and Looking Ahead
The one-week closure directly impacts all government and provincialised educational institutions in the Kamrup (Metro) district. While private schools have the option to follow suit, the advisory's main effect will be on the public school system. The situation underscores the broader challenges faced by schools in the region during extreme weather events, particularly the lack of basic amenities like warm clothing and adequate heating facilities.
With the cold wave showing no immediate signs of relenting, the focus now shifts to how schools will manage the academic calendar once they reopen on January 6. The incident has also reignited the debate on fulfilling long-standing promises to equip students with necessary winter gear to ensure their comfort and ability to learn in challenging climatic conditions.
