Following several incidents of children fainting due to heat in schools, teachers are demanding an extension of summer vacations. If temperatures remain high, even private schools may follow.
JAMSHEDPUR – The summer’s escalating temperatures are proving to be a challenge for the newly resumed school sessions in the city and surrounding areas, including Potka and Ghatshila.
Just days after the reopening of government schools post-summer vacations, there are disturbing reports of children fainting due to the unbearable heat.
Heat Crisis in Schools
On Friday, incidents of heat-induced unconsciousness among schoolchildren were reported in several schools. In the wake of these alarming episodes, teachers are once again pressing for an extension of the summer break or adjustment in school timings.
Teacher Union Appeals
In response to the incidents, the Jharkhand Primary Teachers Association made an urgent plea to the Deputy Commissioner’s office. They proposed extending the summer holidays in government schools until the monsoon season or adjusting school hours to 7 am to 10 am instead of the current 7 am to 1 pm schedule.
Impact on Students
According to the union, it becomes unbearably hot by 11 am, leading to a spike in incidents of children collapsing or fainting due to the heat.
The union points out the additional burden for students from poorer families who walk considerable distances to school in the heat.
The union has proposed extending the summer vacations or modifying school hours to accommodate the extreme weather conditions. They highlighted the severity of the situation in Jamshedpur, which was the second hottest city in Jharkhand on Friday, with temperatures reaching 43.4 degrees Celsius.
Implication for Private Schools
Unless the city’s temperatures drop within two days, private schools scheduled to reopen from Monday might have to extend their holidays too. Most of these schools have already hinted at this possibility, although no formal announcements have been made.
Disturbing Incidents
Several disturbing incidents of students fainting due to the heat have been reported in various schools across the city, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. Schools such as Harijan Middle School, Bhalubasa, Government Jai Hind Girls Middle School, Ranidih Uttamrit Middle School, and Gudbanda Middle School have all seen students affected by the heat.
