Nagpur: With temperatures in Vidarbha soaring beyond 44°C, far higher than Mumbai’s relatively moderate 35°C, parents and academicians from the region have questioned the state govt’s ‘one-size-fits-all’ diktat to continue schools till the end of April without regional adjustments, alleging that policies framed in Mumbai are overlooking the extreme heat conditions faced by students in the region.Parents across Nagpur flagged the difficulties of sending children to school amid intense heat, saying academic pressure leaves them with little choice. “My elder child is in Class 9, and as a parent I do not wish to send him to school, but we do not have any other option as there is a lot of syllabus to cover,” said a parent and teacher, Agnola Franswah. Another mother, Preeti Sinha, shared a similar concern, stating, “My son Abheek is in Class 11, and I would have really appreciated it if the school had made online arrangements. Since they haven’t, we are compelled to send our children in this blazing heat.”Several parents suggested revising school timings to early morning hours to reduce exposure to the sun. “Being Nagpurian, we all know that it’s a very hot place, so schools should run from 7am to 10am,” said Monica Somkuwar, another parent. Rita Bhiwankar pointed out logistical challenges, saying, “It is difficult to pick up and drop my child in this heat. It would have been easier if timings were like summer camps.”Liladhar Thakre, Nagpur district president of Maharashtra Rajya Prathamik Shikshak Samiti, criticised the lack of flexibility in policymaking. “The temperature is not the same everywhere. Students whose schools end by 11.30am have to walk 2-3km in the sun. There is no need for uniformity when nature itself is not uniform,” he said, advocating that district-level committees should decide school schedules based on local conditions. He added that while the govt mandates 200-220 working days, implementation should be left to local authorities.Thakre also highlighted infrastructure challenges, particularly in rural areas where several schools lack basic amenities such as electricity and fans, further aggravating the impact of the heatwave on students.Citing a 2007 Nagpur bench of Bombay high court’s judgment, which had earlier pushed back school reopening dates in Vidarbha from June 15 to June 26 due to extreme weather, he said similar region-specific considerations should guide current decisions.Echoing these concerns, Ravindra Fadnavis questioned the safety of students attending school during peak heat hours and called for accountability in case of heat-related health issues. He stressed that a uniform academic calendar is impractical in a state with diverse climatic conditions.Maharashtra Rajya Shikshan Sanstha Mahamandal joint secretary Ravindra Fadnavis raised concerns over student safety during peak heat hours. “If students suffer due to this, who will take responsibility? The academic calendar cannot be uniform across Maharashtra. Each region is different,” he said. He also questioned advancing school reopening to June 15, noting that earlier timelines worked without issue.With heatwave alerts already in place, parents and educators are urging the govt to adopt a more flexible, region-sensitive approach in school timings and calendars that balances academic requirements with student safety.
