Amidst the ongoing heatwave, Meghalaya Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma has stated that district administrations and school heads are authorized to adjust school timings based on specific regional needs. He emphasized that the state government has not issued any directives to change school schedules.
Speaking to the media, the minister stated, “If we decide the school timing, it will be different for Shillong, as here there is no issue. There are many schools that have already rescheduled their classes to the morning.”
When asked if the state’s Education Department had given any specific instructions, Sangma responded, “As of now, no. But we have always insisted that the concerned Deputy Commissioner and the head of the institution decide according to the needs. For example, if there is a storm, don’t wait for the government’s instruction to close the school—the principal should decide. If there is a heatwave, don’t wait for the government to decide—the principal should take a call based on the situation.”
The minister’s comments come amid rising temperatures across the state. Recently, Ampati town in South West Garo Hills recorded a scorching 41.4°C, while Sohra, a popular tourist destination, reached 32.5°C. Two days ago, Shillong recorded its highest September temperature in 55 years at 29.9°C before afternoon rains brought it down to 22.5°C.