Starting tomorrow, March 15, schools in Hyderabad and certain other districts of Telangana will operate on half-day schedules. This measure has been prompted by the increasing temperatures across the state.
While some parts of the country are yet to experience summer, Telangana saw temperatures soar to 41 degrees Celsius on March 13, as documented in the Nalgonda district. Notably, numerous other districts in Telangana, including Hyderabad, also registered temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius.
The half-day schedule will be in effect from March 15 until the conclusion of the academic session on April 23, 2024. All primary, upper primary, and high schools across Telangana, regardless of their management affiliation, whether government or private, will operate from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
To ensure that students receive adequate nutrition, schools providing midday meals will serve them at 12:30 p.m. The Department of Education has advised both private and government schools to ensure access to quality fresh water for students during this half-day period.
Special classes will continue for Class 10 students preparing for the upcoming SSC public examination in March 2024. Schools designated as SSC examination centers will extend their operating hours from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. to accommodate these classes effectively.
The notice by the Commissioner of School Education read, “All the regional Joint Directors of School Education and District Educational Officers in the state are hereby informed that half-day schools will commence from March 15th onwards till the last working day, i.e., April 23, 2004, of the academic year 2023–24.”
The notice lastly said, “All the Regional Joint Directors of School Education and District Educational Officers in the state are hereby directed to communicate the above orders to the schools functioning under all managements and monitor the implementation.”