Bhubaneswar: Acting on the directive of the School and Mass Education Department, the morning session of all private and government schools began across Odisha on Monday.
Taking note of the scorching summer this year as predicted by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the Odisha government on March 9 had issued a circular to all private and government schools across the state to have mandatory morning session from April 2.
As per the circular issued by the School and Mass Education Department, all schools to have morning session from 6.30 AM to 10.30 AM. Under no circumstances, the schools will remain open after 11 AM.
Besides, instructions have been given to the school authorities to complete their mid-day meals by 10.30 AM.
The circular also asked the school authorities to complete all examinations by March 31.
The summer vacation would begin from May 4.
To ensure that no child suffers from heat stroke, the school authorities have been directed to make adequate provision for drinking water and first aid facilities during examinations.
Schools having no tube wells and drinking water facilities, the headmasters of these schools have been asked to advise the students to bring water bottles and umbrellas with them.
Besides, the school authorities have been categorically asked not to force the children to do physical exercise against their will, the circular said.
As decided by the department, the new academic session 2018-19 would begin from April 3, the Prabesh Divas (entry day) would be celebrated in all schools in the state. On this day, the children in the 6-14 age group will be enrolled. Besides, children who have left the school during the mid-session and children who are yet to be enrolled would be invited to the school for enrollment with their parents.
The awareness campaign would continue from April 2 till April 5.
The Purna Upasthana Divas (full attendance day) would be celebrated on April 6 in which the newly enrolled children would be welcomed and books will be distributed free of cost.
