The district administration on Sunday issued a fresh order, directing the schools to keep academic activities up to Standard V suspended till January 21 and start higher classes after 9am because of the prevailing cold conditions.

Alfred de Rozario, the director of Don Bosco Academy, said: “According to the recent directive, classes up to Standard V would remain suspended till January 21. The classes of senior students would start after 9pm. We might have to face problems in completing the syllabi of the students in classes I to V because of the extended vacation. So, we have decided to conduct extra classes every Saturday once the classes begin.”

Supporting the decision of the district administration to keep the academic activities of the junior classes suspended for two more days, the Don Bosco Academy director said: “Children might fall sick if they come to school in the present weather conditions. So, I am not against the move of the administration at all.”

Father Satish, the principal of Loyola High School, said completing the syllabi on time against the backdrop of the extended vacation would be a challenge. “It would be a little bit difficult for us to complete the syllabi but we shall manage,” he said.

The vacation extension did not impress Nishant Kumar, a Class V student of DAV Transport Nagar, much. “The final exams are around the corner. So, I am not at all in favour of this extended vacation,” he said.

Unlike Nishant, several parents hailed the move. Raj Kumar Mishra, an advocate of Patna High Court, said: “Thank God, the district administration has extended the winter vacation.”