School timings changed in Odisha; teaching hours reduced by 1 hr

Bhubaneswar: The School and Mass Education department today changed school timings for students of Class 9, 10, 11 and 12 in view of rise in maximum temperature in various places of Odisha in recent past. As per sources at the department, a decision has been taken to direct schools to hold physical classes of Class 9 and 11 students from 7 AM to 9 AM.

Physical teaching for Class 10 and 12 students at the schools will be conducted from 8 AM to 12 PM, the sources added.

Earlier, the department had fixed schools timings from 7 AM to 1 PM.

Members of the Odisha Secondary School Teachers’ Association (OSSTA) opposed the school timings from 7 AM to 1 PM.

School and Mass Education Minister Samir Ranjan Dash had hinted there would be change in the timings after day temperature rose in many places of the State in past few days.

The Office of the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) issued advisories to the District Administrations following a heat wave forecast done by the India Meteorological Department.