In a proactive move to protect school-going children from the rising risks of dense winter fog, the Haryana government has implemented a state-wide change in school hours.
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The Order: The Directorate of School Education issued a circular late yesterday evening, making it mandatory for all schools—primary, secondary, and senior secondary—to adhere to the new 10:00 AM start time. The closing time has been compressed to 2:30 PM to ensure students reach home before the evening fog begins to set in.
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Visibility Crisis: Over the past 48 hours, districts like Hisar, Bhiwani, Sirsa, and Rohtak have reported “Zero Visibility” in the early hours. The decision was catalyzed by reports of minor bus collisions and near-misses on foggy rural stretches during the 7:30 AM commute.
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Uniformity Across Districts: Unlike previous years where individual Deputy Commissioners (DCs) decided on timings, this order applies uniformly across all 22 districts of Haryana to avoid confusion among parents and transport providers.
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Impact on Syllabus: School heads have been advised to shorten the duration of each period rather than cutting subjects. Practical exams and pre-boards for Classes 10 and 12 will be adjusted within these new hours to minimize academic loss.
