MUSCAT: The Board of Directors of Indian Schools Oman has issued a statement clarifying its decision to resume classes in its schools as the parents and students raised their concerns about reopening Indian schools after the summer vacation, despite the severe summer temperatures in Oman ranging from 45 degrees to 50 degrees Celsius.
Parents say that while in previous years, classes were resumed after the extreme summer heat subsided, this time the schools were opened in mid-July itself, and expatriate organisations have also expressed concern about this.
In a statement, the BoD has said that it places the safety and well-being of every child as its highest priority and that every decision, policy, and initiative is guided by its unwavering commitment to providing a safe, secure, and nurturing learning environment across all Indian Schools in Oman.
”Prioritising student comfort, safety, and health as Indian Schools reopen across the country, the Board has issued a robust safety protocol and the comprehensive directive mandates proactive health measures, safe infrastructure, and modified daily activities to ensure a comfortable learning environment for every child,” the statement said.
However, the representatives of parents have submitted a petition to the Board of Directors of Indian Schools in Oman, the Embassy and the Ministry of Education demanding extension of the summer vacation to be urgently considered in view of the extreme summer conditions.
“The extreme heat can lead to serious health problems, including dehydration, in students. Parents had expressed concern that even if necessary safety measures are put in place in and around the school, children may be exposed to sunstroke while coming to and from school, while waiting for the school bus,” a worried parent told the Observer. Parents pointed out that other schools usually open in September. However, this time, Indian schools have opened earlier by shortening the summer vacation. Currently, many children are experiencing physical discomfort after coming back from school. Teachers point out that the CBSE had followed the statutory teaching hours even when it had given the previous 50-day vacation, and therefore there is no academic justification for cutting the vacation.
However, in the backdrop of the heated controversy, the Indian School Board of Directors has also issued strict emergency instructions to schools for the safety of students. The instructions issued include completely stopping school assemblies, sports and other outdoor activities, ensuring that AC’s in the classrooms and school buses are working properly, providing uninterrupted access to cold drinking water to children, not keeping children waiting inside parked buses, and setting up school clinics to deal with emergencies like heat stroke.
“As schools resumed classes in mid-July, we are seeing an attendance of 85 per cent in all the schools. The safety, health, and well-being of our students remain our absolute highest priority,” Syed Ahmad Salman, Chairman of the Board, told the Observer.
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