Uttarakhand Implements New School Timings; Uniform Seasonal Schedule Enforced Across State

DEHRADUN, April 7 — The Uttarakhand School Education Department has enforced a new state-wide timetable for all government and private schools, introducing uniform working hours calibrated to summer and winter seasons. The revised schedule has come into immediate effect.

Under the new order, schools will operate from 7:45 AM to 2:05 PM between April 1 and September 30, and from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM during the winter session running from October 1 to March 31. Both sessions will follow an eight-period academic structure with a mid-day interval.

The directive applies uniformly to all government and aided institutions as well as private schools across the state. All schools have been instructed to strictly adhere to the revised timings.

Officials clarified that the order does not include any revision in fee structures. No separate helpline has been issued in connection with the timetable change, and parents and school authorities have been advised to contact their respective district education offices for any queries or clarifications.

According to the department, the decision aims to standardise school functioning, ensure uniform academic hours, and align school schedules with the seasonal conditions of Uttarakhand’s diverse geography.

However, the move has drawn concern from certain quarters. Parents and educators in hilly and remote regions have expressed reservations over the 7:45 AM summer reporting time, citing long travel distances and difficult terrain faced by students. These challenges, they argue, differ significantly from those in the plains.

District education offices have been designated as the nodal points for addressing grievances related to the new timetable.