Gujarat Allows Rain-Hit Schools to Hold Classes on Holidays to Finish Syllabus

The Gujarat education department has said schools in districts affected by recent heavy rainfall may hold classes on designated holidays to ensure the syllabus is completed, with officials emphasising that academic continuity remains the top priority.

Milind Torawane, Principal Secretary of the Education Department (Primary and Secondary Education), said the state curriculum requires 220 academic days. Beyond the standard summer and winter breaks, local administrations are permitted to adjust schedules based on ground-level conditions, he added.

"The priority is completing the syllabus rather than necessarily holding classes during holidays, so they make adjustments at their own discretion," Torawane said. He noted that even after accounting for Sundays and scheduled vacations, sufficient working days remain to compensate for teaching time lost to the downpour.

Officials also addressed the issue of students who lost textbooks in the flooding. Torawane said replacements have been distributed based on reports received from affected districts, following an earlier announcement by the Education Minister.

Nitin Sangwan, Collector of Valsad — one of the worst-hit districts — said schools were closed due to flooding but not for extended periods. He suggested that classes could be held on Saturdays, which are normally off-days, to recover lost time. "Classes are affected whenever a 'red alert' is issued for heavy rains," he noted, adding that remaining textbook replacements would be delivered soon.

Sangwan said both private and government schools are free to conduct special classes to cover the syllabus. District panchayats can issue directives if necessary, he added.

Heavy rain in south Gujarat districts, including Navsari, Valsad, and Surat, caused flooding that affected local populations. Several deaths were reported in rain-related incidents, and thousands of people were relocated or rescued during the downpour.