MUSCAT: The Board of Directors of Indian Schools Oman has issued a comprehensive set of heat safety measures for all affiliated schools, reaffirming that student health and well-being remain its highest priority, following concerns raised by parents over schools reopening during the peak summer period.

The directive comes a day after The Arabian Stories reported parents’ concerns about students returning to classrooms in mid-July, ahead of most international and local schools in Oman. Parents had questioned the reopening schedule, citing high temperatures during commuting hours and the potential impact on children’s health and safety.

Responding to the concerns, Board Chairman Syed Ahmad Salman said approximately 85 percent of students had attended classes since schools resumed in mid-July and stressed that “the safety, health, and well-being of our students remain our absolute highest priority.”

To safeguard students during the summer months, the Board has instructed all Indian Schools in Oman to suspend outdoor activities, including physical education classes, sports and morning assemblies, until weather conditions are deemed safe.

Schools have also been directed to introduce regular hydration breaks throughout the day, ensure the availability of chilled and hygienic drinking water, and carry out mandatory inspections and immediate repairs of air-conditioning systems in classrooms, laboratories, common areas and school buses.

In addition, school transport operators have been instructed to maintain optimal air-conditioning and ensure students do not wait inside parked buses during pick-up or drop-off.

The Board’s safety protocol also requires schools to provide additional support for younger children and students with pre-existing medical conditions. School clinics have been instructed to remain fully equipped to manage heat-related illnesses, while staff have been trained to identify early symptoms of heat stress and respond promptly.

“As we welcome children back to the classroom, we have taken immediate, proactive steps to shield them from weather conditions so they can focus on what matters most: learning, growing, and thriving,” Syed Ahmad Salman, said.

The Board said the measures reflect its commitment to embedding student care, precaution and safety into the daily operations of schools while maintaining a secure and nurturing learning environment.
Commenting on the decision to commence the academic year in mid-July, Salman said the Board’s approach was shaped by lessons learned during disruptions to education in recent years.

“Twice in the last six years, including this year, the world drifted beneath our feet, as Board examinations couldn’t be conducted. That emotional awakening taught us that education is not a cold, single moment of judgement, but an enduring labour of love, a continuous sanctuary of guided growth where every single day is a promise kept to our children,” he said.