This summer is a scorcher but schoolchildren would face less heat.

Authorities concerned have decided to bring forward the vacation and also tweak school timings keeping the rising temperature in mind.

Jesus and Mary Academy, Patna City, has preponed its holidays. Earlier, the vacation was scheduled to begin from May 26 but now it has been brought forward by a week.

The principal of St Joseph’s Convent High School, Sister Lucina, said: “We might change the schedule of the summer vacation. According to the present schedule, the school will close on May 18. However, we are planning to hold a meeting with other school authorities. If we arrive at a conclusion of closing schools earlier, the last working day will be May 10.”

Brother Felix of Loyola High School said: “We’ll have a meeting next week to discuss the same and then we might close earlier.”

St Dominic Savio’s High School and Radiant International School have changed their timings from Thursday.

District magistrate N. Saravana Kumar had given instructions on Thursday not to carry out academic activities at the primary, middle government and private schools after 12noon, effective from Friday. He said the order would be effective till improvement in weather conditions.

Keeping the order in mind, city schools have changed their timings. Principal of DAV Khagaul (which runs in two shifts) D.K. Ghosh said: “We have changed the timings from today (Friday). The study hours have now been reduced to four hours from six.”

The second shift, however, would continue till 12.30pm. He added: “The same buses have to carry children in the next shift and therefore we have to keep a margin of two hours. We cannot help it.” Earlier, the school used to run from 6.30am to 12.30pm and 9am to 3pm, respectively.

BD Public School director S.B. Rai said: “We run the school in two shifts and it is difficult for us to change the timings. The students would be forced to miss their breakfast if school starts too early in the morning. Parents too find it difficult to drop their children at the bus stops so early.” As far as seniors — from Class VII to Class XII are concerned — they would have to wait for the decision. The school would continue from 6.30am to 11.45am for the first shift.

However, the Met office has some good news for those feeling the summer sting. Residents can expect a respite during the weekend because of isolated thunderstorms. Weathermen have claimed that the temperature would dip by two degrees during the next few days.

Ashish Sen, director, India Meteorological Department, Patna, said on Friday: “The prevailing dry westerly winds in Bihar are weakening at present and being replaced with moist easterly winds. While thunderclouds are expected to be formed in central Bihar, including Patna, for a day or two from Sunday, there is minimal possibility of precipitation.”