CHENNAI: Some of the matriculation schools in the city that reopened on Wednesday have decided to extend the vacations for the lower classes by a week more, taking note of the unrelenting summer heat that soared though the Kathiri month is already over. But those in senior classes like X and XII have no such luck.
On Wednesday, AGM Matriculation School in Velachery reopened only for classes X and XII. For others, from UKG to Class IX and also Class XI, classes will begin only on June 9. “We wanted to extend a week as parents also requested us,” said a teacher. Some other schools have decided to extend vacation by a week for younger students till Class V.
It is not an easy decision to take. As S P P Selva Kumar, the principal of Sethu Bhaskara Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Ambattur, pointed out, one-and-a- half months were lost due to the Chennai floods. “We don’t know what is in store for us this year, so we don’t want to waste the working days,” he said. The school reopened on Wednesday itself.
To beat the heat, schools like these are taking several measures. Kumar said they have taken a series of measures ranging from whitewashing the structure to reduce the heat to deciding to conduct assembly before 9 am and finishing physical education classes before 11 am. “We also issued an advisory as to what all the students should follow, including drinking lots of water and wearing cotton material,” he said.
Others like ECI Matriculation in Guindy is installing additional fans. “We have also provided water cooler in every floor,” said its principal Roslin Mohin.
However, even the mercury that crossed 39 degree Celsius could not affect the enthusiasm of young ones like Sri Bhusan who are excited to meet friends. “Staying at home is boring,” he said.