CBSE schools must follow June 30 reopening order, demand associations, politicians As schools across Vidarbha remain closed until June 30 under a Bombay High Court directive citing extreme heat, teachers' associations and political leaders have demanded that CBSE-affiliated institutions in the region comply with the court’s order. The directive, issued to address the risks posed by soaring temperatures—often exceeding 40°C—has sparked controversy as some CBSE schools in Nagpur and neighboring districts have already begun classes for senior students, while others have announced reopenings as early as June 15. Vidarbha Junior College Teachers Association general secretary Ashok Gavhankar criticized the disparity in treatment between CBSE schools and state-run institutions, questioning why CBSE students should be exempt from the heatwave’s impact. “Are CBSE students robots? Doesn’t the sun affect them?” he asked, accusing education department officials of disregarding both the court’s orders and previous government resolutions. Gavhankar alleged that officials in Pune were undermining the court’s directions and that the lack of political leadership in the education sector had enabled bureaucratic overreach. Rashtriya Shikshak-Palak Sanghatan national convenor Yogesh Pathare emphasized the severity of the situation in Vidarbha, noting that the heatwave conditions made the issue particularly urgent. He stated he would write to the state education department to take action against schools defying the court’s orders. “Most schools currently operating are conducting classes for standards 9, 10, and 12. Schools reopening on June 15 have created confusion among parents and students,” Pathare said.#bombay_high_court #vidarbha #yogesh_pathare #ashok_gavhankar #deepali_dably
Classrooms Turn Virtual Heat Traps: Why Are Nagpur Schools Still Open? Nagpur: With temperatures in the region hovering around 43°C, classrooms across the city have become virtual heat traps, yet children continue attending school during the peak hours of the day. This situation has sparked widespread criticism of the Maharashtra government’s inadequate response to the ongoing heatwave. Despite public health advisories urging people to stay indoors after noon, the education department has not issued any directives to close schools or adjust class timings. Parents and educators argue that this inaction puts children’s health at risk, highlighting a glaring disconnect between policy and ground realities. The lack of a statewide policy has left district administrations in Vidarbha to improvise, resulting in inconsistent and last-minute decisions. Wamanrao Chatap, head of the Vidarbha Rajya Andolan Samiti, accused policymakers of apathy, stating, “The chief minister is from Nagpur. If leaders here cannot recognize the severity of Vidarbha’s summers, who will? Schools should have been shut from April 1. This is sheer apathy. The least they can do is keep children in mind while planning the academic session.” Public frustration has grown after The Times of India highlighted the issue, with citizens criticizing the disconnect between policymakers and local conditions. One reader blamed bureaucrats for being “unfamiliar with Vidarbha’s summers” or forgetting them after transfers to Pune or Mumbai. A school principal echoed this sentiment, suggesting, “Make bureaucrats sit in classrooms after noon. Let them endure what children are forced to. Decisions will change overnight.” Another citizen called for direct accountability from the political class, urging, “Hold the assembly session here in peak summer.#times_of_india #maharashtra_government #vidarbha #wamanrao_chatap #yogesh_pathare
