Bengal private schools to start summer holidays early after Mamata Banerjee's plea

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Several private schools across West Bengal will begin their summer holidays earlier than planned, following an urgent appeal from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the wake of heightened Indo-Pak tensions after India's missile strikes on Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir under 'Operation Sindoor’, The Indian Express reported.

The Chief Minister, addressing reporters on Wednesday, requested all private English-medium schools to declare Thursday, May 9, as the last working day and commence summer vacation from Friday, 9 May, a week ahead of schedule.

“My appeal to the English-medium schools is to declare vacation now, from the day of Rabindra Jayanti (May 9), i.e. seven days ahead of the scheduled date, in view of the present situation,” Banerjee was quoted by TimesNow. She also clarified that this was a request and not a directive.

According to The Indian Express, principals from several prominent schools have confirmed that they are complying with the government’s appeal to ensure student safety. The principals of two prominent private schools told PTI, “According to our academic calendar scheduled earlier, our last working day will be May 8 (Thursday). We will resume classes by mid-June.”

Notably, government schools in the state had already begun their summer holidays from 30 April due to extreme heat, but many private schools had continued classes until the Chief Minister’s request.

The education community has largely welcomed the move, viewing it as a proactive measure to safeguard students amid the current national situation.