ICSE schools to resume classes from Monday

The ICSE-affiliated schools in Bengal have decided to resume classes from Monday following improvement in weather conditions, a senior member of the Association of Head of ICSE Schools said today.

This was decided during a meeting held by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), on a different issue, yesterday, after the representatives of the association, took up the issue of suspension of classes since June 20, the association's General Secretary of Bengal chapter, Nabarun Dey, told PTI.

"As the issue came up during the meeting that held on a different issue yesterday, it was decided that in view of improvement in weather conditions, the schools can resume classes from Monday and most of them are expected to do so," Dey said.

Classes were suspended across various ICSE schools in wake of the state education department's notification and subsequent letter by CISCE recommending suspension of classes due to severe heat conditions, he said.

The CISCE on June 19 called upon principals of all affiliated schools in West Bengal "to adhere and comply" with the request of the state government to suspend classes, due to the sweltering heat.

"The government of West Bengal has decided to suspend classes in government, government-sponsored and non-government aided schools in West Bengal from June 20 to 30, 2018 due to extreme hot weather conditions," the CISCE had referred to the state government's June 19 notification, in its letter.

The school, where Dey is the principal, had suspended classes on June 21 and 22 following the council's letter.

"We are also starting classed from Monday," Dey said.

When contacted several other prominent institutions affiliated to the CISCE confirmed they would start classes from Monday.

There are around 100 ICSE-affiliated institutions in and around the city and most of them had suspended classes from June 20 to 22, an association member said.

The notification was issued keeping in view the hardship faced by children in attending classes due to the sweltering heat, West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee had said on June 19.

He had also said, while the notification would come into effect for state-aided, and state-run schools, the government also would request private schools, including those affiliated under other Boards, to suspend classes from June 20 to 30.

Chatterjee could not be contacted today.