Andhra Pradesh schools reopen today, to function half-day until June 17 – Times of India

The state government of Andhra Pradesh has announced that schools will be conducting half-day classes until June 17, 2023. During this period, schools will operate from 7.30 am to 11.30 am, according to the academic calendar released by the state school education department.
To mark the beginning of the academic year on June 12, 2023, the government has made arrangements to distribute Jagan Anna Vidya Devena kits to students attending government schools on the reopening day. However, the decision to resume classes has faced opposition from parents, student associations, political parties, and the State Commission for Protection of Children (SCPC).
Concerns have been raised regarding the prevailing heatwave conditions across the state. Various groups have requested the government to postpone the reopening of schools until the end of June. Nara Lokesh, the general secretary of the TDP party, has emphasized that the early reopening may increase the risk of heat strokes among children, urging the government to reconsider and reopen schools after the third week of June.
Despite the concerns, schools will be serving ragi malt and mid-day meals to students during the half-day classes. It is worth noting that the summer vacation had commenced on May 1, 2023.
Additionally, the government has decided to introduce Byju’s content in Intermediate schools. Byju’s, an online education platform offering video tutorials and other educational resources, aims to enhance the quality of education at the Intermediate level.
The government has acknowledged the concerns about the hot weather in June and stated that it will closely monitor the weather conditions to make a decision regarding a possible extension of the summer vacation if necessary.