Jamshedpur schools closed till June 14 due to heat wave

Ranchi / Jamshedpur, June 11: In response to the intense heatwave prevailing in Jharkhand, all schools in the state will remain closed until June 14, 2023. The Department of School Education and Literacy, under the guidance of Secretary K Ravi Kumar, has issued an order mandating the closure of all government, non-government aided/unaided (including minority), and private schools across the state until June 14.

The order specifies that all schools in Jharkhand will remain closed until June 14, and further decisions regarding compensation for educational losses during this period will be communicated separately. The directive will be effective from June 12 to June 14, 2023.

Many schools in the state were scheduled to reopen on June 12 following the summer vacation. However, parents expressed concerns about the scorching heat, prompting schools in Jamshedpur such as Loyola School, Carmel Junior College, J H Tarapore School, and Tarapore School to extend the vacation for students up to Class 2 until June 18.

Additionally, District Commissioner Vijaya Jadhav’s orders prompted other schools of Jamshedpur to change the school  timings for students in other classes.

Following the state government’s order on Sunday, all private schools in Jamshedpur have issued notification to extend the summer vacation till June 14.

The Jharkhand Parents Association had also advocated for an extended holiday period. They had written a letter to the Education Secretary, requesting an extension of the leave, considering the challenges posed by the excessive heat and heatstroke prevalent in the state. Temperatures have soared to around 44 degrees Celsius in districts such as Jamshedpur, Chaibasa, Dhanbad, Bokaro, Giridih, Deoghar, Dumka, Godda, Palamu, Garhwa, and the capital city of Ranchi. Given these conditions, it was difficult to send children to school. Association President Ajay Rai had emphasized that schools were scheduled to open in every district of the state from June 12, necessitating an extension of the leave.

Relief for parents and children

The recent order from the Education Secretary has brought some relief to parents and children. Many parents expressed their gratitude, acknowledging that the government’s decision. If the situation remains unchanged after June 14, there may be a renewed demand for an extension of the leave period.