CHENNAI: Realising the difficulties of students going to school in scorching summer, the State government has announced that all schools will be closed from April 21 (Friday).
The Meteorological Centre on Monday had issued a heat wave alert lasting two days for 20 districts across the State, including Chennai.
But the State education department did not announce holiday for schools, leading to fears that children, who were advised to take caution, would be vulnerable to extreme weather.
But on Tuesday, School Education Minister KA Sengottaiyan responded by saying that schools have been instructed to close from April 21.
“Classes are ending only next week but we have told schools to close from this Friday. We will examine the matter and take further steps,” he said.
An advisory will be issued to private schools not to conduct special classes for Standards X and XII students, Sengottaiyan said. “We will take necessary action if such classes are held. Students must not be forced to attend any special classes.”
In recent days, mercury levels have increased drastically across the State, with several places recording temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius.