Why Did Chhattisgarh Revise School Hours Amid Heatwave?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- School hours revised to 7:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. from June 17 to 21.
- New academic session started with the 'Shala Pravesh Utsav'.
- District-level celebrations planned to boost enrollment.
- Every school now has at least one teacher.
- Commitment to achieving 100% literacy and reducing dropout rates.
Raipur, June 16 (NationPress) In light of the persistent heatwaves affecting various parts of Chhattisgarh, the state government has made an adjustment to school schedules for the week of June 17 to 21. According to the directive from the School Education Department, all public and private schools will operate from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. as a precaution against the intense midday heat. Normal school hours are set to resume on June 23.
On a brighter note, the new academic session commenced on June 16 with vibrant celebrations throughout the state. Schools reopened with festivities for the “Shala Pravesh Utsav (School Admission Festival)”, featuring warm receptions, sweets, and joyous ceremonies.
In Raipur, teachers welcomed students with a 'tilak' and handed out sweets, creating a festive atmosphere for the upcoming year. Similar warm welcomes were observed in Bilaspur, Jagdalpur, Raigarh, Durg, and Bhilai, where educators greeted returning students with enthusiasm.
Raipur District Education Officer Vijay Khandelwal announced that the admission festival will extend to block-level events on June 18 and culminate with a district-level celebration at a Girls’ School on June 20, aimed at boosting enrollment and ensuring every child is accounted for at the beginning of the academic year.
The state government has also made notable progress in school rationalization. Previously, 212 primary and 48 pre-secondary schools were functioning without any teachers, while over 7,000 schools operated with just one instructor. Thanks to comprehensive restructuring, the government has now guaranteed that every school in Chhattisgarh has at least one teacher.
Additionally, 166 underused schools have been merged, and schools with no student enrollment have been re-evaluated.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai welcomed new students through a message on his X handle on Monday, reiterating the state’s commitment to achieving 100% literacy.
In correspondence with education officials, he emphasized the goal of reducing the school dropout rate to zero by Class 12, aligning with the National Education Policy 2020. He also initiated the “Mukhyamantri Shiksha Gunvatta Abhiyan (Quality Campaign)”, aimed at improving educational outcomes in government schools.