New Delhi: In a surprising turn of events, the Delhi government has withdrawn its order to extend the winter vacations for all the schools in the national capital till January 10. The Education Department of the Delhi Government has issued a clarification that the previous order was issued by mistake and has been immediately revoked.
The order to extend the winter holidays was issued on Friday, given the severe cold wave and fog that has gripped the city for the past few days. According to the order of the Directorate of Education, the decision was taken to ensure the safety and well-being of the students and staff of the schools. However, the order was met with confusion and criticism from some parents and school authorities, who questioned the rationale and timing of the decision.
The withdrawal of the order has left many schools in a dilemma, as they had already notified the parents and students about the extended holidays and had rescheduled their academic activities accordingly. Some schools have decided to stick to the original plan and resume classes from January 11, while others have decided to follow the revised order and reopen from January 6.
Delhi’s climate
Delhi has been experiencing one of the coldest winters in recent years, with the mercury dipping below normal levels. On Saturday, the city recorded a severe cold day, with the maximum temperature at 13.8 degrees Celsius at Mayur Vihar, the lowest in the city. The minimum temperature was 4.2 degrees Celsius at Safdarjung, which is considered the official reading for the city. The visibility was also low due to dense fog, affecting the traffic and flight operations.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast that the cold wave conditions will continue for the next few days, with the possibility of rain and snowfall in the northern parts of the country. The IMD has also issued an orange alert for Delhi, warning of severe cold waves and dense fog.
Schools will remain closed here
Meanwhile, several other states in North India have also extended the winter vacations for schools given the cold wave. In Uttar Pradesh, the government has announced that the schools in Lucknow, Noida, and Prayagraj will remain closed till January 10. In Madhya Pradesh, the government has changed the school timings and instructed that no classes should be held before 9 am for the students of nursery to eighth class till January 13. In Rajasthan, the government has extended the winter holidays for schools till January 10 and for Anganwadi centers till January 13. In Jammu, the government has declared holidays for schools till January 12.
