HYDERABAD: With school reopening slated for next week, parents were wary of sending their kids out in the searing heat of the extended summer. The IMD on Thursday forecast that the heat wave would last for two more days.
"Summer holidays are sure meant to be a break for kids from school, but more importantly, to keep away from the heat. But with temperatures still hovering around 40ºC, we're still in two minds about sending my child to school," said Aarti Reddy, parent of a student studying in Habsiguda.
Schools and parents were awaiting word on whether the reopening would be delayed if the heat continued.
Director of School Education, Sridevasena Allamraju was unavailable for comment on the same.
Schools are set to reopen for the new academic year 2023-24 on June 12. After a summer break from April 25, students will commence the year that will have 229 working days and three sets of term holidays (Dasara, Christmas for missionary schools and Sankranti for the rest), according to the school education department’s academic calendar.
Last minute vacancies were being filled in several schools, the admissions having been made long back, and they were selling textbooks, uniforms and collecting term fees.
The Prof. Jayashankar Badi Bata, an enrolment drive of children in government schools of the state, taken-up by the School Education department, began on June 3 and concluded on Thursday. As part of the drive, children in all habitations were identified and enrolled in the nearest schools.
At most private schools, teachers resumed work on June 1 and were tasked with division of students into sections, teaching notes, year plans, time tables, and more. A few schools have also taken up renovation and repair works ahead of the reopening.
In the works are yoga and meditation for five minutes daily, a no-bag day every third Saturday and one period a week for newspaper reading, storytelling, storybook reading and drama/skit etc, in English.
