Change school timings or extend vacation: Parents associations of Ahmedabad

With extreme heat wave prevailing in the state, parents associations of Ahmedabad have demanded extension of summer vacation or reduction in school timing. All Gujarat Parents Association and Vali Swaraj Manch, on Friday, in a letter addressing the District Education Officer (DEO) has requested to change the timing of school or delay reopening by a week.

In a letter addressed to the DEO, Vali Swaraj Manch stated, "Orange alert has been declared in Ahmedabad. We cannot predict the weather nor do we know when will the heat wave subside. All parents are of the view that either the summer vacation should be extended or there should be reduction in school timing."

Whereas All Gujarat Parents Association has demanded extension of summer vacation by a week. Amit Panchal, president, Vali Swaraj Manch said, "We have requested the DEO to extend summer vacation and if it is not possible then conduct classes between 7 am to 10 am till the orange alert subsides. Children will be able to return home before the sun becomes too harsh and their studies will also not get affected."

Pointing at other states, Dharmesh Patel, convenor of Vali Swaraj Manch said, "During orange alert, government issued instructions not to venture out in the heat. More importantly, there are many schools that run during the afternoon shift. In Delhi, due to smog, air pollution and harsh winters, many times the government changes the schedule of their winter vacation. This year why cannot the government extend the duration of summer vacation."

Anisha Shaikh, principal, FD High School for Girls in Jamalpur said, "Instead of Navratri break, state government this time should extend summer vacation of schools by a week owing to extreme heat wave in the state."

Heat Wave

All Gujarat Parents Association and Vali Swaraj Manch, on Friday, in a letter addressing DEO has requested to change the timing of school or delay reopening by a week