The Tamil Nadu government has postponed the reopening of schools across the state to June 4 amid rising concerns over prevailing heat conditions and growing appeals from parents, teachers and political parties to reconsider the earlier schedule.
The state had initially announced that schools for students from Classes 4 to 12 would reopen on June 1, while Classes 1 to 3 were scheduled to resume from June 4. Authorities had also planned to distribute textbooks to students on the reopening day.
However, with temperatures remaining high in several parts of the state, political leaders and various organisations urged the government to delay reopening in the interest of students’ health and safety.
The issue triggered wider public discussion, with demands that the government prioritise student welfare before resuming academic activities.
Earlier, School Education Minister Rajmohan said the government had sought inputs from weather officials regarding the impact of the heat and would take an appropriate decision based on expert assessments.
Subsequently, Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay held consultations with the minister and senior officials of the School Education Department to review the situation.
Following the discussions, the department announced that all schools across Tamil Nadu would now reopen uniformly on June 4.
In a statement, the School Education Department said it had received multiple requests from parents, teachers and political organisations seeking a common reopening date for all classes. The department noted that staggered reopening schedules could create practical difficulties for families with children studying in different classes.
The government also cited weather forecasts indicating continued pre-monsoon activity in several parts of the state, including intermittent rainfall, humidity and heat conditions during the first week of June.
Apart from weather-related concerns, officials reviewed school preparedness measures, including sanitation arrangements, drinking water facilities, transport readiness and overall campus preparation.
The government has directed Chief Educational Officers and District Educational Officers to ensure all necessary arrangements are completed before schools reopen, with special emphasis on student safety, welfare and well-being.
(With IANS inputs)
