Schools To Declare Summer Vacation From April 20 In West Bengal: Mamata Banerjee

Summer Vacation West Bengal: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee directed schools to start summer vacation from April 20, Tuesday till June 2 because of the rising COVID-19 cases in the state.

Schools Closed In West Bengal

In a press conference held on April 19, Banerjee discussed the new directives issued to curb the spread of the virus. She ordered schools to prepone summer vacations and remain closed till June 2. Even teaching staffs are not allowed to work on-campus during this period. An online mode will be conducted for all kinds of preparations for the board exams if needed.

We have decided to start summer vacation for all schools from tomorrow till June: West Bengal Mamata Banerjee (File photo) pic.twitter.com/jPDUP3thvP

— ANI (@ANI) April 19, 2021

Summer vacation for government schools in the state was scheduled to begin on May 7. Students of Classes 10, 12 and teachers were attending the schools since mid-February. However, the vacations now stand preponed and will begin from tomorrow in Government schools.

Bengal Education minister Partha Chatterjee said, "Classes for 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th standard had resumed from mid-February (in state-aided and state-run schools). But, due to the present COVID-19 situation, we are forced to prepone the summer vacation. The education department will issue necessary notifications today." He urged private schools to follow the same.

During the same conference, Banerjee criticised the Government's plan of "night curfew". She said, "Night curfew is not the solution. We should remain alert, there is nothing to panic." She further informed that the State Government has been successful in increasing 20% of beds in the hospitals and that she will be cancelling all her major meetings and rallies in view of the COVID-19 surge.

The state recorded 49,638 active cases of COVID-19 with over 10k deaths. The CPI(M) has refrained from any further political rallies for the upcoming elections in the state due to the rising coronavirus cases. Measures have been taken by the Government to restrain the drastic outspread. However, Banerjee has announced that there will be no lockdown/night curfew in the state immediately.