Parents and Educators in Vidarbha Urge Flexible School Timings Amid Extreme Heat Nagpur: With temperatures in Vidarbha surpassing 44°C, significantly higher than Mumbai’s relatively cooler 35°C, parents and educators from the region have raised concerns about the state government’s decision to maintain school operations until the end of April without adjustments for local climatic conditions. They argue that policies formulated in Mumbai fail to account for the extreme heat faced by students in Vidarbha, prompting calls for a more region-specific approach to school schedules. Parents across Nagpur highlighted the challenges of sending children to school during the intense heat, emphasizing the lack of alternatives due to academic pressure. Agnola Franswah, a parent and teacher, stated, “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.” Similarly, Preeti Sinha, a mother of a Class 11 student, expressed frustration, saying, “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 minimize exposure to the sun. Monica Somkuwar, another parent, remarked, “Being Nagpurian, we all know that it’s a very hot place, so schools should run from 7am to 10am.” Rita Bhiwankar pointed out logistical difficulties, stating, “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, criticized the lack of flexibility in policymaking. “The temperature is not the same everywhere.#nagpur #vidarbha #agnola_franswah #preeti_sinha #liladhar_thakre
