School shut order `clarified'

TT, 04 ay 2019, Salt Lake: State schools will remain closed during the cyclone weekend, the government clarified on Friday.

The school education department had on Thursday declared classes would be suspended during the cyclone. The announcement had triggered confusion among school heads and teachers because rules make it mandatory for teachers and other employees to be present in school when classes are suspended.

Teachers and employees get holidays only when schools are fully closed, a headmaster of a state school said.

After receiving a notice on Thursday asking schools to suspend classes because of Cyclone Fani, several school heads had wondered whether they would have to keep the schools open during the cyclone on Friday and Saturday. Many had approached the school education department seeking a clarification, an official said.

Friday's notice clarified that all government schools would remain closed from May 3 to June 30. The notice specified that government schools would remain closed on May 3 and May 4 for the "predicted severe Cyclonic Storm Fani" and thereafter from May 6 to 19 because of the "prevailing heatwave condition". The summer vacation scheduled to start from May 20 remains unchanged and will continue till June 30 because of "anticipated extreme weather condition", according to the notice.