Mangaluru: With summer heat intensifying across coastal Karnataka, several colleges have called for revised class schedules as attendance drops, particularly during afternoon hours.College authorities said soaring temperatures have made it difficult for students to sit through classes, leading to a noticeable decline in attendance in the afternoon. While some students continue to attend due to ongoing internal assessments, many are opting to skip classes during the hottest part of the day.Sowjan K George, principal of Dr G Shankar Govt Women’s First Grade College and PG Study Centre in Ajjarkadu, Udupi, said the institution is considering a shift in timings following student complaints. The college, which has around 1,600 students, has about a quarter of them in hostels. The college Plans to hold a staff meeting to discuss starting classes earlier, at 8.30am instead of 9.30am, and concluding by 2pm to avoid peak heat hours.Similar concerns have emerged elsewhere. At a govt first grade college near Mulki, a senior professor noted that attendance drops sharply after noon, with nearly half the students absent during afternoon sessions. Calling it a recurring summer issue, he urged Mangalore University to consider a broader policy, including the possibility of suspending regular classes during April and May.Principals also pointed to inadequate infrastructure, such as poorly ventilated classrooms, which worsens the situation for both students and faculty. Dr P Dayananda Pai–P Satisha Govt First Grade College in Carstreet, Mangaluru, principal Jayakar Bhandary, said attendance is further affected as some students take up part-time work during the busy summer season. While internal assessments compel attendance to some extent, he acknowledged that the heat has made classrooms increasingly uncomfortable.Some college heads have suggested adopting a summer schedule similar to north Karnataka, where classes begin early and end by noon. Others, however, argue that such changes may inconvenience students travelling long distances, and instead recommend suspending regular classes during peak summer weeks as a more practical solution.
