Bhubaneswar: All government and government-aided schools in Odisha will reopen on June 18 after the summer vacation.

The School and Mass Education Department has instructed all schools to prepare for the reopening. Schools are required to clean all classrooms and toilets before resuming classes, with preparations starting a week in advance.

Additionally, schools must ensure the availability of drinking water and mid-day meal supplies ahead of reopening. State and district-level inspection teams will visit schools to verify that cleaning and other necessary preparations have been completed.

Teachers, non-teaching staff, cooks, and their assistants have been directed to return to duty a day before the reopening. District Education Officers (DEOs) have been tasked with ensuring mid-day meal arrangements, smart classrooms, and e-library facilities with internet access.

The state government had closed schools for summer vacation on April 25 due to the severe heatwave conditions. Schools were scheduled to reopen on June 17, but the date was postponed to June 18 due to celebration of Eid al-Adha on June 17, according to the department's notification.