Bhubaneswar: The Odisha govt has issued a stern warning to private and govt schools that were continuing to run classes despite the official declaration of summer vacation from May 3.This comes in the wake of reports from several districts that some schools were still conducting academic activities, flouting the govt’s directive issued in view of the intense heatwave sweeping across the state.The school and mass education department earlier announced summer vacation for all schools from April 22, citing rising temperatures and health concerns for students amidst the intense heatwave situation across the state. However, complaints surfaced that some schools, particularly private ones, were either holding regular classes or conducting extra coaching sessions during school hours.Taking serious note of these violations, the department directed district education officers (DEO) to conduct surprise inspections and submit reports. “Strict action will be taken against any school found violating the summer vacation directive. The safety and well-being of children cannot be compromised,” said Durga Prasad Mohapatra, additional secretary of the department in a letter issued to all district education officers on Wednesday.Parents have also raised concerns over the continued functioning of some schools, stating that prolonged exposure to heat could adversely affect children’s health. The IMD predicted that the heatwave conditions would persist in many parts of the state over the next few days.The department urged all schools to comply with the vacation order and refrain from any academic activity until further notice. The govt has also appealed to parents to report any violations by schools in their locality to the nearest DEO or block education officer.