UP extends summer vacation in schools till June 24 amid heatwave

UP schools operating under the Basic Education Council and recognized institutions will remain closed until June 24 after the state government extended summer vacations in view of the ongoing heatwave across Uttar Pradesh.

The extension was announced through an order issued by Basic and Secondary Education Additional Chief Secretary Parth Sarathi Sen Sharma.

The revised academic calendar now designates May 20 to June 24 as the annual summer vacation period, with regular classes scheduled to resume on June 25.

The schools had reopened following the summer break, but the latest directive pushed back the reopening date by another week.

The state government said the decision was taken on the instructions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, citing student safety, health, and educational welfare amid persistently high temperatures.

Officials said the revised schedule will establish a uniform academic calendar across the state and reduce the need for district administrations to repeatedly announce local holiday extensions during periods of extreme heat.

Under the new arrangement, teachers, shiksha mitras, instructors, and non-teaching staff will report to schools from June 22 to June 24 to complete preparations for the new academic session.

Schools have also been instructed to organize collective yoga sessions involving teachers and students on June 21 as part of International Day of Yoga observances.

Preparatory activities during this period will include lesson planning, arrangements for the mid-day meal program, textbook distribution, meetings of school management committees, preparations for Bal Vatika classes, cleanliness drives across school campuses, kitchens and toilets, and ensuring the availability of sports equipment and other essential facilities.

The government has also reiterated the importance of complying with provisions of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, which requires schools to maintain a minimum of 220 working days and regular teaching activities during each academic session.

District magistrates have been advised to take these statutory requirements into account before declaring any local holidays in the future, officials said.

The order also directs schools to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply, safe drinking water, and other basic amenities before students return to classrooms on June 25.

The move comes as several districts in Uttar Pradesh continue to experience severe heatwave conditions, prompting authorities to adopt precautionary measures to protect students from prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures.