Heat Waves Delay Start of School Year

Education authorities in several cities and provinces have postponed the fall semester for primary and secondary schools due to ongoing heat waves.

Schools in Chongqing and Sichuan Province in southwestern China and Nanchang in Jiangxi Province have notified parents of delays of up to a week – which may be extended if conditions persist.

Jiangxi’s meteorological service center forecasts that temperatures in northern, southern and central parts of the province will reach highs between 35 and 38°C (95 and 100.4°C) for the next three days.

Schools in Sichuan Province, including those in Zigong, Leshan, Nanchong, Suining, Luzhou, and Dazhou, were supposed to have opened yesterday. Still, due to sustained extreme temperatures, classes are now scheduled to begin on Monday.

Weather forcast for Chongqing from August 18-23 (Image via Ai)

On August 28, all the districts and counties in Chongqing announced a week-long delay and emphasized that the decision was made to ensure the safety and health of teachers and students amid the extreme heat – which in some cities has exceeded 40°C (104°F).

Chongqing is known for its sweltering summers and was on red alert for high temperatures for 12 consecutive days from August 21 to September 1; a red alert is the highest level of China’s temperature warning system and is issued when temperatures are expected to reach 40°C (104°F) within the next 24 hours.

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[Cover image via Ai]