Chandigarh Govt Contemplates School Holiday Extension Amid Severe Cold Spell

In light of the persistently cold weather, the Chandigarh administration is considering extending the school holidays by an additional one week. The Department of School Education suggested a potential winter break extension on Friday, as reported by The Indian Express. Schools were originally expected to stay closed for students in classes 1 through 8  until January 14. The Department of School Education is currently contemplating granting a further extension until January 21.

It has not yet been decided whether or not schools will close for students in Class 5 or Class 8. However, once a decision has been reached, the specifics of the extension will be formally made public.

HPS Brar, Director of School Education in Chandigarh, expressed the administration’s consideration of extending the school holidays. He was quoted by The Indian Express, stating, “Till which classes the holidays would be extended, this decision would be taken soon.”

Apart from the discussions held by the local government, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has sent a letter to the education department. As one of its main areas of attention, the NCPCR stressed the importance of protecting school children’s safety and security.

The commission’s concerns about how the extreme cold affects children in schools—especially in states where the temperature may be unsuitable for them—were emphasised in the NCPCR letter. The committee emphasised how crucial it is to give kids the right care when they are in school and on their commute, especially considering how young they are. As a result, in order to make wise judgements based on the current weather, the NCPCR advised reviewing school calendars and timetables.

In addition, the NCPCR called on state and union territory (UT) governments to guarantee that no kid experiences hardship in schools or on the way to and from school as a result of decisions made by officials and school administrations during severe weather conditions. The preemptive approach taken by the commission is indicative of its commitment to ensuring the safety of schoolchildren in the event of severe weather conditions.