If you live in Punjab, you know exactly what the mornings have looked like recently. You wake up, look outside, and it’s just a wall of white fog. It has been a daily struggle for parents to wake up shivering kids and get them ready for the bus in freezing temperatures.Well, the government has finally heard you.In view of the intense cold wave and dense fog enveloping the state, the Punjab Government has decided to change the opening and closing timings for schools. The Education Minister has issued official orders today, bringing much-needed relief to students, parents, and teachers alike.The New Schedule: 10 AM Start!According to the new orders, all primary schools in Punjab (both government and private) will now operate from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.This is a significant shift from the earlier timings. The government realized that expecting small children to travel in near-zero visibility at 8:00 AM or 9:00 AM was risky and difficult. This new timing allows the sun to come up (hopefully) and the fog to clear a bit before the school run begins.What About Senior Students?While the biggest relief is for the little ones in primary classes, reports suggest that middle, high, and senior secondary schools will also see a shift. Usually, in such orders, the start time is synchronized to 10:00 AM, though senior classes often stay back a bit longer (typically until 4:00 PM) to cover their syllabus. It is best to check the WhatsApp message from your specific school group for the exact closing time for older kids.Safety FirstThe main reason cited for this decision is the safety of students. With visibility dropping to less than 50 meters in many districts, school buses and vans were finding it dangerous to navigate the roads early in the morning.So, for now, turn off that 6 AM alarm. The mornings just got a little bit warmer and a lot less rushed!
Around the web
