With North India grappling under a severe “Red Alert” for dense fog, the Haryana Education Department is reportedly finalizing a proposal to advance the annual winter vacation to ensure the safety of school-going children.
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Early Holidays Hinted: While the standard winter break usually begins on January 1st, senior officials in the Education Department have hinted that schools across the state—both government and private—might be ordered to close as early as December 25. This potential move follows reports of multiple fog-related minor accidents involving school buses in the early morning hours.
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The “Red Alert” Factor: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a persistent Red Alert for several districts in Haryana, including Ambala, Kurukshetra, Karnal, and Hisar. Visibility in these regions has been dropping to nearly zero during peak school hours (7:00 AM to 9:00 AM), making commuting hazardous for students and teachers alike.
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Current Adjustments: As an immediate measure, many districts have already shifted school timings to start after 9:30 AM. However, parents and teachers’ unions have been advocating for a complete shutdown until the weather stabilizes. “The safety of the students is our top priority. We are monitoring the IMD forecasts closely and a formal notification regarding the December 25 start date is expected within the next 48 hours,” said a department spokesperson.
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Impact on Examinations: The department clarified that if the holidays are advanced, any pre-board or internal assessments scheduled for the last week of December will be postponed to the second week of January.
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Online Classes: Some private schools in the NCR region (Gurugram and Faridabad) have already indicated that they may switch to online mode for the period between Christmas and New Year if the holidays are not officially declared.
