With the early onset of summer and prevailing heatwave conditions across large parts of West Bengal, the state primary education department has ordered schools to modify school timings without disrupting the academic calendar.

According to the Meteorological Department, heatwave conditions are likely to prevail in some southern districts of the state till Sunday, with day temperatures remaining three to five degrees Celsius above normal in Gangetic West Bengal.

The maximum temperature is likely to be above normal by three to five degrees Celsius during the next two days in south Bengal, it said.

Heatwave conditions are expected to prevail in the southern districts of South and North 24 Parganas, Paschim Medinipur, Paschim Bardhaman, and Birbhum districts till Sunday, it said in a bulletin.

Kolkata recorded a maximum temperature of 37.6 degrees Celsius on Friday, nearly three notches above normal. Kolkata’s highest temperature may cross 37-38 degree Celsius soon, the Met said.

According to the president of West Bengal Primary Education Board, Gautam Pal, the period of summer vacation has also been changed — from May 2 to May 13.

“However, if the heat waves continue, then the school education department will seek advice from the Education Department. We will then notify extension of the summer vacation,” Pal said.

“At present, certain districts like Darjeeling, Cooch Behar have pleasant water now. So, they do not require to shift the classes to the morning session. But wherever there is a heatwave, the Board would consider the appeal of the schools,” he said.

There are around 40,000 government-affiliated primary schools in the state.