Heatwave: Tamil Nadu schools to reopen on June 12

CHENNAI: Considering the prevailing heat conditions in Tamil Nadu, the school education department has postponed the reopening of schools to June 12.
"With no respite from the summer heat, the school education minister has announced that schools will reopen for classes VI to XII on June 12, while for Classes I to V they'll open on on June 14," a circular from the director of school education said. The circular asked the chief educational officers to ensure all schools reopen on those dates.
Schools were originally scheduled to reopen on June 1. Later, it was postponed to June 7, and now to June 12.
Many cities including Chennai, Vellore and Madurai have been experiencing heat waves over the past few days. With no respite, many sections including private schools wanted the reopening of schools to be postponed by a week.
Officials said they might have to conduct classes on Saturdays to compensate for the holidays.
"Schools need to function for 220 working days in an academic year. During the monsoon season, we may also have a few more holidays. We may have to hold classes on Saturdays to compensate for the holidays," an official from the school education department said.
Earlier, some school associations including Tamil Nadu nursery, primary, matriculation, higher secondary and CBSE schools association had demanded that reopening of schools be postponed by a week due to the heat conditions prevailing in the state.
"The schools should be permitted to conduct classes for board exam students from June 7. For others, the reopening could be postponed by a week," K R Nandakumar, general secretary of the association said in a representation.
However, headmasters opposed the move saying declaring holidays in view of weather conditions would affect students.
"Usually, heat conditions prevail in June and July months. Parents and students are eagerly awaiting for reopening of schools. Students will sit inside the classrooms. Delaying the start of the academic year by two weeks will affect students," said S Gnanasekaran, general secretary, Tamil Nadu Higher Secondary School Headmasters Association.
He said it would exert more pressure on teachers as they may have to work on Saturdays and rush through the syllabus.