Bhubaneswar: Summer vacations in all government, government-aided, and private schools across Odisha will begin from April 27, nearly a week ahead of schedule, due to the severe heatwave and its impact on children, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced on Friday.
Decision Taken for Student Safety
Typically, summer vacations in Odisha schools start from the first or second week of May, with schools reopening in mid-June. However, the school and mass education department submitted a proposal to advance the vacation, which was approved by the chief minister keeping the safety of children in mind.
An official statement from the chief minister’s office said that pre-scheduled examinations, census work, and other office-related activities would continue as planned.
Review Meeting Held Earlier
On Thursday, a review meeting was conducted by the special relief commissioner with officials from the school and mass education, revenue, and disaster management departments to assess the heatwave situation and decide on the vacation schedule.
“The early closure of schools is expected to bring relief to students and parents as Odisha continues to reel under harsh summer conditions,” said an official from the school and mass education department.
Temperature Crosses 40°C in 24 Places
On Thursday, temperatures crossed 40 degrees Celsius at 24 places in the state, including Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. Hot and humid conditions persisted in the twin cities on Friday, with the weather department continuing to warn of intense heat in several districts.
District Collectors Authorized to Decide
Earlier, the state government authorized district collectors to make decisions on the opening and closure of schools based on local weather conditions. Following this, several collectors ordered school closures in their respective districts.
Previous Years' Precedents
In previous years too, the state advanced vacations due to extreme summer conditions. Last year, vacations began on April 23, while in 2024, they started on April 25.
Higher Education Not Yet Notified
The higher education department has not yet issued any notification regarding summer vacation for colleges and universities.
