Begin summer vacation for schools from May 2: West Bengal CM to Education Minister

The minister stated that announcing early summer breaks in schools would also protect children from chances of contracting COVID-19.

Commence summer vacation in West Bengal from May 2, said the Chief Minister of the state. In the wake of the prevailing heat wave conditions, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on April 26, 2022, has urged the state education minister to announce the onset of summer vacation in schools and colleges from May 2.

Children at risk amid COVID-19 surge

The minister stated that announcing early summer breaks in schools would also protect children from chances of contracting COVID-19, if there was a surge in infections in Bengal, as was the case in some other states. "I will urge education minister Bratya Basu to announce May 2 as the date for the onset of summer vacations in schools, colleges and universities. Ask the private schools to implement this, too," CM Banerjee said.

The minister made the request during an administrative review meeting at the state secretariat. She said that her office has received reports of several incidents falling ill due to the scorching heat.

Institutions, colleges in West Bengal to curtail summer vacation

While the minister is planning to announce early summer vacation in schools, colleges and other educational institutes in West Bengal are thinking to curtail vacation.

Reports suggest that various residential colleges and institutes have decided to shorten the summer break with an aim to make up for the loss in studies following the pandemic-induced closure of the campus and delayed start of the academic session.

Meanwhile, colleges and universities that follow the semester's choice-based credit-based (CBCS) systems from 2018, would get the summer break between the dissolution of classes in the second week of May and internal and end-semester examinations in June, an official of the education department informed The Telegraph India. 

Read More: