Kids exposed to morning chill even as schools await closure orders
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Kids exposed to morning chill even as schools await closure orders

A few schools in Noida and Greater Noida have yet to announce winter vacation.

Kids exposed to morning chill even as schools await closure orders File Image

Greater Noida: The Delhi-NCR has recorded this season's lowest temperature on Friday, in fact, the lowest in the last 100 years. But, many children in Noida and Greater Noida still have to brave the chilly morning weather. Reason: a few schools have yet to wake up the situation and announce winter vacation.

Mikhail, class III student of a private school in Noida, not only gets up on his regular schedule of 6 am but also stands in wait outside his house for the school bus. All the winter clothing, from monkey cap to blazer and mufflers, is no match to this spine-chilling weather.

Speaking to CitySpidey, his mother, Roya, said, "I feel terrible for him. I even asked him to stay home if he wants to, but he says his teacher had asked not to take any chutti  (leave)".

Like Mikhail, there are many children who have been going to school just because the concerned authority didn't ask the school to shut down. 

"I had called his class teacher to ask her to talk to the principal. I was told the school was still awaiting a response from the administration while the administration is dependent on the orders from the Chief Minister's office.

While this 10-years-old boy has the luxury to travel to school by bus, children studying in government school neither have that facility nor do they have proper winter wears to suffice the chilly winds.

Brajesh Sharma's daughter Adrika studies in Noida's Cambridge School which is yet to be closed. He says at 7 o'clock in the morning one can see children with red faces and hand gloves heading towards their schools while the adults go for work post 9 am.

The funny part of the whole thing is that there is no coordination among schools. While some are open, others are closed.

Notably, neighbouring Ghaziabad district has announced the holidays at the first instance when the mercury started dropping. In many households of Delhi-NCR, one sibling is home while others at school because they study in different districts.  

Manish Kumar, a resident of Greater Noida west, says, his kids study at Aster Public School which has already declared winter holidays and only those students are going to school who have participated at in the annual function scheduled for upcoming Saturday.

Clearing the air, Manish pointed out that schools wait for district magistrate's (DM) order for closure. If 4-5 parents favour the closure, another 6-8 parents oppose. 

He is of the view that children are much safer in schools as they are sent to school completely packed in sweaters and jackets. And 95% of students go to school by buses, which are also packed. Plus, no child stays in a blanket in case they are at home.

Working parents too have a grouse. The winter and summer vacations, they say give them time for bonding with the family after busy school life for children and work and home for the parents. Aradhna Shanker who is a teacher herself in Noida says that her college-going son is home but she is not able to spend time with him or plan a vacation as she is required to be at school.

While the concept of giving only a week's winter vacation isn't new to the students of a government school in Uttar Pradesh. Of late, it has become a trend in many private schools as well, rued a parent while speaking to this reporter on phone.

Raising a major health concern, Anita Prajapati, a resident of Gaur City 6th Avenue in Greater Noida west said kids were falling sick with cold and cough. Also, it is very difficult to get ready at dawn and set off in the pitch dark when the sun has yet to rise.