Ludhiana: Despite the maximum temperature soaring above 40 degrees Celsius, 15 double shift schools in the city are continuing classes during peak heat hours from 12pm to 5pm. Among the affected institutions are Govt Senior Secondary School PM Shri Cemetery Road, Govt Senior Secondary Smart School PAU, Govt Primary Smart School Kundanpuri, and Govt Multipurpose Senior Secondary School, among others.
Teacher's Perspective
A government school teacher stated, "Students feel exhausted these days, so the school gives them five to 10 minutes to settle and cool down before they start studying. This helps them feel a little better."
Student Experiences
Students acknowledge the difficulty of attending school during such extreme weather but say they have no other option. Sumit, a student at a double shift government school, shared, "I have to travel around 3 kilometres to reach my school on a cycle. The heatwave is at its peak when I travel, so I cover my face and arms and carry a water bottle to keep myself cool while going to school. Hopefully, the weather will improve in the days to come, but as of now, there is no choice."
Manya, a student at a double-shift primary government school, added, "The school requires facilities like filtered cold water and fans. Sometimes, it becomes difficult to concentrate in class because of the heat, and travelling to school in the sun is exhausting."
Parental Concerns
Parents are also facing challenges. Vrinda, a parent, said, "My children study in Class IV and VII. I have to come to drop one child at school at 12:15pm and wait for the other one to come out. They feel very exhausted. I urge authorities to consider the situation and take required steps." She added that schools should be closed these days in view of the inclement weather.
Official Response
Amandeep Singh, Deputy DEO, stated, "There are 15 schools running in double shifts in the city. There are no directions from higher authorities to change school hours or any other schedule. Any such directive from higher authorities or the government will be implemented. As of now, double shift schools are operating without any changes just like other government schools."
