Last updated:November 22, 2024, 4:06 PM IST

Schools in Bihar used to function from 8:50 am to 4:30 pm. The classes will be held for eight periods, according to ACS Siddharth’s new order.

The Bihar education department has also announced that if a board exam for any class is held in the school, no other classes should be postponed (Representative/File photo)

The Bihar education department has changed the opening hours of government schools due to the cold wave conditions. Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), S Siddharth, issued a notification on November 21 clarifying that schools will now function from 9.30 am to 4 pm, with immediate effect. Schools in Bihar used to function from 8:50 am to 4:30 pm. The classes will be held for eight periods, according to ACS Siddharth’s new order. The first bell rings at 10 a.m. and the eighth bell rings at 4 p.m. The lunch break will be from 12 to 12:40 p.m.

According to reports, activities such as checking students’ clothes, nails and hair, as well as general knowledge sessions, news reading and discussions, will take place at the assembly between 9:30 and 10:00.

This decision was made in response to the area’s increasing chilly weather. Further, it has been announced that if a board exam for any class is held in the school, no other classes should be postponed. In such cases, students should continue their studies in other classes. As temperatures continue to drop across the state, the decision seeks to protect the health and safety of staff and students.

On Saturdays, schools will henceforth give priority to extracurricular and creative activities, reports added. “Bagless Saturday” will be introduced to children in grades 1 to 8, encouraging a day without everyday homework and centered on artistic projects. Sports, art, music and dance classes will reportedly be part of this program.

Students will participate in activities such as the Children’s Parliament after lunch, and their projects and artistic creations will be displayed according to reports. These programs combine academic study with practical experience to offer a well-rounded approach to education. The directive also includes measures to ensure that schools function as intended. To get more attention from the teachers, weaker students will sit in the front rows. The principal will be responsible for creating the routine according to the teachers’ availability and ensuring that it is followed.

In addition to ensuring that classrooms and school premises, including kitchens and toilets, are kept clean and hygienic, teachers are required to assign and check homework every day. The principal will be responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of the school and for carrying out routine inspections.