Thousands of schools across Assam and Bihar have been forced to close due to extreme weather conditions, severely disrupting education for millions of students.
In Assam, devastating floods have led to the indefinite closure of more than 13,000 schools across 24 districts, affecting over 22 lakh students. The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) is actively monitoring the situation as heavy rainfall continues to inundate vast parts of the state.
The floods have caused widespread damage to infrastructure, leaving many areas inaccessible and posing a serious threat to the safety of students and teachers. With rising water levels, many schools have become relief camps for displaced families. In addition to the school closures, significant universities in Assam, including Guwahati University and Assam Down Town University, have postponed all exams until further notice due to the challenging circumstances caused by the floods.
According to an Indian Express report, in Bihar, a different weather crisis has led to the shutdown of educational institutions. The state's Education Department has declared early summer vacations, effective from May 15 to June 22, in response to the ongoing heatwave sweeping across the region. With temperatures soaring to dangerous levels, authorities have taken preventive measures to ensure the safety of students. Both government and private schools will remain closed during this period. Additionally, the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) has postponed the Class 10 and 12 compartmental exams, further impacting the academic calendar.
As a further precaution, Bihar's Education Department has also ordered schools to observe Saturdays as holidays once classes resume, aiming to reduce exposure to the extreme heat. The state government closely monitors the situation and will decide to reopen schools based on weather conditions.
These prolonged closures have significantly disrupted the academic year in both states. Authorities in Assam and Bihar are working on plans to mitigate the loss of instructional time. Once the weather stabilises, makeup classes or revised schedules will likely be announced to compensate for the lost academic days.
As the severe weather persists, both state officials prioritise student safety. The situation remains under constant review, with further updates expected in the coming weeks depending on weather conditions and the status of recovery efforts in the affected regions.