Private schools to reduce working hours as heat hits extreme levels

With temperature soaring to extreme levels, several private schools have announced a cut in working hours, under instructions from Supreme Education Council (SEC).

The SEC last week reduced working hours of state-run Independent schools by over an hour.

These schools now start at 7am and close at noon.

"We will change our timing from Sunday. The KG classes will begin at 7am and close at 10.30am. Other classes will start at 7am and close at 12.30pm, one hour early," A K Srivastava, Principal, Birla Public School (BPS), said.

He said the school had received a circular from SEC with an advice to reduce the timing in view of the extreme weather.

SEC, however, has allowed schools to decide, he added. BPS also posted an announcement about new timing on its website.

DPS Modern Indian School, Ideal Indian School, Bhavan’s Indian School and Olive International School are among private schools that have announced a cut in working hours.

More schools are expected to follow suit.

"Due to excess heat, authorities have decided to reduce school working hours by one hour with effect from June 9," said an announcement on DPS website.

Nursery and preparatory classes will begin at 7.15am and close at 10.30am and other classes will start at 7.15am and end at 1pm, it added.

Summer this year in the Gulf and many other parts of the world is expected to be hotter and longer due to El Nino phenomenon, according to weather forecasts.

Temperature in Qatar hit 46 degrees Celsius last week, four-five degrees higher than normal levels, according to the Meteorology Department.

The department forecast a decline in temperature today, with the maximum in Doha expected to reach 38 degrees.

However, the weather is expected to be humid with chances of strong winds. The Peninsula