Madhya Pradesh will begin its new academic session on June 16, the state government announced, while simultaneously extending summer vacation for teachers by seven days in response to a severe heatwave gripping the state. Teachers, who were originally required to report from June 1, will now return to schools on June 7.

Why the Extension Was Granted

The School Education Department issued the official order on Saturday, 30 May, citing extreme weather conditions across the state. Several districts in Madhya Pradesh are recording temperatures above 45 degrees Celsius, raising health concerns for school staff.

In its notification, the department stated: 'The state is currently experiencing extreme heat and heatwave conditions, with temperatures exceeding 45 degrees Celsius in several districts. Teachers are also engaged in census-related duties and board examination work during the summer period.'

The dual burden of census duties and board examination-related work, alongside the dangerous heat, informed the decision to push back the teachers' reporting date.

School Chalen Hum Campaign Phase 2

Alongside the academic reopening, the second phase of the 'School Chalen Hum' campaign will also launch on June 16 and run through June 30. The drive is aimed at securing enrolment of all eligible children and bringing dropout students back into the classroom.

The State Education Centre has directed all District Collectors to organise special activities during the campaign period. Officials have been tasked with conducting door-to-door visits to identify out-of-school children and facilitate their readmission. The Child Tracking System on the 'Hamare Shikshak App' will be deployed to monitor and follow up on dropout cases.

Shala Prarambh Utsav and Session Preparations

All government and Sandipani schools will celebrate 'Shala Prarambh Utsav' on June 16 to mark the start of the new session. District Collectors have been asked to conduct regular reviews of the campaign at the district level to ensure targets are met.

The School Education Department has also directed authorities to ensure textbooks are distributed before the session begins. Officials must complete online data entry related to textbooks, gather feedback on book quality, and finish pending work on the co-location of Anganwadi centres with primary schools.

What This Means for Students and Families

For families across Madhya Pradesh, the June 16 reopening date provides clarity after weeks of heatwave-related uncertainty. The overlap of the School Chalen Hum campaign with the session start is designed to maximise enrolment momentum, particularly in rural and semi-urban districts where dropout rates remain a concern.

With preparations underway and district-level machinery activated, the state's education machinery now faces the twin challenge of a smooth session launch and a concerted push to bring every eligible child back to school.