Government aided schools in UP have changed their timing as cold conditions in the state are expected to remain the same for the next four to five day. The orders to change the timings of the schools were issued by the basic education department.
An Official of the basic education department said that government schools having classes first to eighth will commence their operations from 10:00 am instead of 9:00 am. The officials at the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said that cold conditions in the state are expected to prevail for the next four to five more days. The officials have also predicted rainfall in western Uttar Pradesh along with the moderate to dense fog in the coming days in various parts of the state.
“In the wake of prevailing weather conditions, we have decided that the school opening timings for all basic education schools will now be shifted to 10am instead of 9am. The closure time will be 3pm for these schools. The timings will remain in force till further orders,” Rajesh Srivas, the basic education officer of the Ghaziabad district, said.
“In 2017, there was a delay in distribution of sweaters, shoes and socks to students. However, this winter season (2018-19), we have expedited the process and the items were distributed among the students as part of the initiative of the state government. The distribution work was completed in December,” Srivas added.
In view of the cold weather conditions, the district magistrate had earlier changed the school timings of both the government and private schools.
“The timing of all schools, including private schools, was changed to 9am in December, 2018. We will take a review of weather conditions before changing the opening timing for all schools. The present order is only for basic education schools,” Ritu Maheshwari, district magistrate said.
The residents however, felt that the timings should be changed to 10:00 am and some even demanded the closure of the schools altogether until the conditions change.
“The administration should also consider changing the morning timings for private schools as well, as fog and cold weather will continue further. The timings are from 9am but still it is too cold for children to move out in cold,” Namita Gaur, a resident of Crossings Republik, Ghaziabad, said.