Heat holiday for schools

TT, Calcutta, April 9: The Mamata Banerjee government on Saturday announced that state-aided and state-run schools would remain closed from Monday till further order because of the "intense heat".

The private schools have been requested to do the same.

The announcement came on a day the maximum temperature clocked 38.6 degrees. It, however, felt 51 degrees under the sun because of high levels of humidity.

"In view of the situation prevailing in the state because of the intense heat, a decision has been taken on the basis of an instruction from chief minister Mamata Banerjee that all state-aided and state-run schools will remain closed from Monday," education minister Partha Chatterjee said at Trinamul Bhavan. "We will request the private schools to keep their institutions closed to give the students some respite from the heat."

AccuWeather.com has predicted that the weather would be sweaty and uncomfortable - the temperature set to hover around 34 degrees and the humidity 52 per cent - when the IPL clash between Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Daredevils starts at the Eden Gardens at 8pm on Sunday.

The humidity is expected to go up to 58 per cent at 11pm, when the match is set to end.

Saturday's maximum temperature was 38.6 degrees Celsius - three notches above normal - but the RealFeel, according to AccuWeather.com, was 51 degrees. The RealFeel is a measure of the combined effect of the temperature, humidity, wind and the angle of the sun on the human skin.

"The temperature is rising. By Monday we are expecting a heat wave situation in Calcutta," said G.C. Debnath, the deputy director-general of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Calcutta.

A circular issued by Kalyanmoy Ganguly, the administrator of the state secondary education board, on Saturday evening read: "In compliance with an order of Principal Secretary of West Bengal School Education Department... it has been decided that classes at all Government Sponsored and Non-Government (aided & unaided) secondary schools from 11th April 2016 until further order due to the adverse weather condition prevailing in the state...."

Following the government's plea to suspend classes, several private schools told The Telegraph that they were yet to take a decision.

"It is unlikely any decision will be taken before the teachers meet on Monday," an official of La Martiniere for Girls said.

South Point has suspended classes for Nursery I and II, Transition and Class I on Monday and Tuesday.

"After checking the weather forecast and considering the government's recommendation, we have decided to spare the smaller children. For those who will come to school, classes will not be held on the top floor. We will review the situation and decide accordingly," said Krishna Damani of South Point.

"If we completely close down in April, what will happen in May?" asked Rita Chatterjee, the principal of the Apeejay Schools. "We can start early and close before noon. Given the trend, the temperature will rise every year."

As for the state-run and state-aided schools, an education department official said: "The suspension of classes should not be treated as an early start of the summer vacation."