The state of Assam is currently facing severe heatwave conditions, leading authorities in Dibrugarh district to implement changes to school timings to protect students from extreme weather.
On September 20, the Office of the District Elementary Education issued an order announcing new schedules for schools affiliated with AHSEC, SEBA, ICSE, and CBSE. The adjustments aim to mitigate the impact of the ongoing heatwave on students’ health and well-being. Under the new guidelines, schools will now start at 8 a.m., and assemblies will be held indoors for shorter durations.
Schools are also instructed to ensure proper ventilation in classrooms and to arrange for alternative power backups in case of outages. To further enhance comfort, students are allowed to wear sandals instead of traditional shoes and may skip waistcoats or ties during this period.
A local school driver commented on the unusual weather patterns, noting that schools had previously been closed earlier this year due to unusually high temperatures. “Usually, by this time, with Durga Puja approaching, it’s cooler. But this year, it’s still quite hot,” he remarked, highlighting the departure from typical seasonal trends.
These guidelines will remain in effect until further notice as authorities continue to monitor the situation and seek ways to protect students from the adverse effects of the heatwave. The proactive measures reflect a growing awareness of the challenges posed by climate change and its impact on education and public health.