Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government has officially confirmed that schools across the state will reopen on 2 June, putting to rest any speculations of a possible delay. The summer break, which began on 25 April, is drawing to a close as students prepare to return to classrooms.

Minister confirms reopening date

School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi reaffirmed the government’s decision, stating that schools will resume operations on the previously announced date. He urged school managements to ensure that campuses are cleaned and ready to welcome students for the new academic year.

Students asked to help prepare classrooms

Ahead of reopening, the Department of School Education has issued a set of guidelines for schools. These include engaging students in preparatory activities—such as cleaning their classrooms and blackboards—to foster a sense of responsibility and readiness for the term ahead.

New initiatives for the academic year

Several initiatives have also been introduced for the upcoming school year:

  • Ethics classes will be held once a week.
  • Anti-drug awareness programmes will be conducted every Tuesday for students in Classes 6 to 12. These sessions will involve creative activities such as speeches, poems, posters, and pamphlet-making.
  • The Chief Minister's Breakfast Scheme must be implemented promptly and with proper quality checks.
  • After lunch, students will be given 20 minutes of reading time, dedicated to children’s magazines.

Heatwave and monsoon concerns addressed

Concerns had earlier surfaced regarding a possible extension of the summer holidays due to high temperatures and early signs of monsoon rains. However, the state government has clarified that these concerns will not affect the school schedule.

Special buses announced for returning families

To help families returning from holidays, the Tamil Nadu Transport Department has arranged 2,510 special buses, starting from Friday. Among them, 570 buses will operate from Chennai’s Koyambedu terminal to key destinations such as Tiruvannamalai, Trichy, Kumbakonam, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Nagercoil, Thoothukudi, Coimbatore, and Salem. The remaining 605 buses are scheduled for 31 May.

In Coimbatore, 100 special buses will be available on 30 May, heading to cities including Tiruvannamalai, Nagapattinam, Velankanni, Hosur, and Bengaluru.

On 31 May, another 90 buses will run. Additionally, 250 buses will operate from cities such as Bengaluru, Tiruppur, Erode, and Coimbatore to towns across Tamil Nadu.

The department has also assured that more buses will be added if required, and advised passengers to book tickets in advance to avoid overcrowding and ensure a smooth journey.