Weighed down by heavy bags and worried over their homework, the schoolchildren of Ranchi now are up against another adversary in the form of a blazing April sun.
With mercury levels on the rise and school timings still unchanged, students are having a hard time attending their classes and travelling between their residence and school.
“I am looking for a van service to pick my daughter from home and bring her back from school as taking her to the bus stop and bringing her back in the hot weather might affect her health,” said Manoj who recently got his ward admitted in the kindergarten class of a renowned city-based school.
Even as temperatures in April this year wandered close to the highest ever recorded in Ranchi for the month, many schools are still dispersing classes well after the sun in high in the sky and temperatures are close to 40oC, much to the displeasure of parents and children.
In absence of an official directive, the school administrations of Ranchi seem to have not given much thought to revising the timings either. Several organisations have even written to district officials regarding the issue.
“We have not changed the school timings as of now as no such instructions have been issued by the office of Deputy Commissioner. Although we do not need to revise our school timings as the lower classes get over well before noon. After that we only have students of Standard IV onwards,” stated Neeta Pandey, Principal of Cambrian Public School.
Meanwhile, Ranchi district administration has still not made up its mind whether to instruct school yet to change their timings on account of hotter days and health of their students.
“Although no directive regarding changes in school timings have been issued yet, but the matter is under consideration. I have asked the District Superintendent of Education (DSE) to go through the reports from State Meteorological Department and take decision accordingly, whether to change school timings or not. After considering the reports, he will also decide on the new timings,” stated Manoj Kumar Deputy Commissioner, Ranchi.
Adding to this, DSE Jayant Kumar Mishra said, “Some private schools have already changed their timings even before any instructions from the district administration. Timings for the government schools have already been changed; classes there are being conducted between 6:30 am to 11:30 am. Directives calling for a change in timings will be issued to private schools when.”