Schools across Sivasagar district in Assam will return to their regular 9 AM opening time starting Monday. This change comes as the intense cold wave that gripped the region earlier this month shows clear signs of abating.
Official Order Reverses Temporary Measure
Deva Jyoti Gogoi, the inspector of schools and district elementary education officer for Sivasagar, issued the official order on Friday. The directive applies to all government, provincialised, private, lower primary, upper primary, secondary, and senior secondary schools in the district.
The order specifically states: "With effect from Jan 19 (Monday), all schools shall follow the normal school timings as followed earlier." This new instruction supersedes the previous directive dated Jan 7 that had pushed school start times to 10 AM.
Precautionary Measure During Severe Cold
The temporary delay in school timings was implemented as a precautionary measure during the most severe phase of the cold wave. Officials cited growing concerns about student health and safety during the peak winter period when morning temperatures dropped dangerously low.
"The decision to delay school timings was a precautionary measure during the most severe phase of the cold wave," explained Gogoi. "Now that weather conditions have improved considerably, we believe it is appropriate to return to the standard schedule to minimise disruption to the academic calendar."
Twelve Days of Adjusted Schedules
The restoration of regular hours comes after a 12-day period during which schools operated on delayed schedules. This measure was specifically designed to protect students from harsh morning temperatures that characterized the cold wave affecting Assam in early January.
The cold wave had prompted similar timing adjustments in several districts across the state, though Sivasagar appears to be among the first to return to normal operations as weather conditions improve.
Minimizing Academic Disruption
Education officials emphasized that returning to the standard 9 AM schedule will help minimize disruption to the academic calendar. The earlier 10 AM start time, while necessary for student safety during extreme weather, had created scheduling challenges for schools and families alike.
Parents and school administrators across Sivasagar district have welcomed the return to normal timings, noting that the improved weather conditions make the earlier start time both safe and practical for students.
