Additional Chief Secretary KK Pathak (file photo)
– Photo: Amar Ujala
Expansion
On the one hand, a warning is being issued in Bihar to remain alert regarding cold. Children and elderly people have been advised to be careful. In view of this, instructions were given to keep schools closed in many districts including Patna till January 20 i.e. till today. Parents were hoping that the school holidays would be extended in view of the cold. But, it looks like this won’t happen now. Because Additional Chief Secretary of Education Department KK Pathak has returned from leave. It is being told that he has asked to immediately withdraw the order to close the school. He also said that if any such leave or school closure order is issued in future, all divisional commissioners and DMs will first take prior permission from the education department.
No letter received from Education Department
Meanwhile, in view of the severe cold and cold wave in Nalanda, District Magistrate Shashank Shubhankar has ordered closure of schools for the fourth time on Saturday. Schools from classes one to eight will remain closed from January 21 to January 23. However, the educational activities of classes above class 9 will continue as before, which is between 9:00 to 3:30. Mission Daksh and special classes conducted for conducting board exams are exempted from this. Earlier, on January 9, January 12 and January 16, orders were issued banning educational activities from classes one to eight including pre-schools and Anganwadi centres. Regarding withdrawal of leave, District Magistrate Shashank Shubhankar said that he has not received any letter from the Education Department. The matter came to light through you. It is being ascertained.
Prior permission of the Education Department must be obtained
While issuing a letter on Saturday on behalf of the Education Department, it was said that due to the recent cold wave, various orders have been issued by the district administration in different districts of different divisions. Looking at these orders it appears that these orders have been made under Section 144. Closing of a school under Section 144 becomes a serious and legal matter. Whatever such orders have been issued in the past days. It should be withdrawn, the timings of government schools have been kept from 9:00 to 5:00. Before issuing any order regarding changing this time period, prior approval of the Education Department must be obtained.