On May 22, 2025, Srinagar recorded its highest maximum temperature for May in nearly six decades—34.4°C—a figure that may look ordinary for much of the country but is profoundly alarming for a city long accustomed to mild summers. In response, the School Education Department (SED) issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for both government and private schools to mitigate risks to children during the ongoing heatwave and afternoon gusty winds. While this move is timely and necessary, it raises deeper concerns about our preparedness, climate resilience, and the slow pace of policy adaptation in the face of rapidly changing weather patterns. That children need to be protected from extreme heat is not a matter for debate. Across the country, the impact of climate change is manifesting in more frequent, intense, and prolonged heatwaves. What was once an occasional inconvenience is now a regular feature of our seasonal calendar. The physiological toll on children—more vulnerable to dehydration, heat exhaustion, and related illnesses—is immense. Add to that the logistical challenges schools face: inadequate infrastructure, lack of ventilation, and minimal access to drinking water and first aid in many institutions, especially in remote or underserved areas. The SOPs issued by the SED, while well-meaning, must not become another paper exercise. Implementation is the real test. Have schools been given the resources to follow these guidelines? Do they have the autonomy to alter school timings, suspend outdoor activities, or shift to online modes if necessary? And crucially, are private schools—often run as commercial entities—being held accountable for compliance? This extreme weather event should also act as a wake-up call for a broader institutional response. If Srinagar, nestled in the Himalayas, is not immune to such heat extremes, no part of the country truly is. The education sector must be integrated into the national climate adaptation strategy. This includes retrofitting schools to be climate-resilient, training staff in first aid and heat safety, and incorporating climate awareness into the curriculum. Moreover, states must adopt a proactive approach—issuing advisories based on forecasts rather than reacting to record-breaking temperatures. We are not witnessing an anomaly; we are witnessing a new normal. And if our response remains limited to SOPs issued in isolation, we will continue to fail the youngest and most vulnerable members of our society. The SED’s move is commendable—but it must be the beginning of a sustained, strategic, and well-funded policy shift. Anything less would be a betrayal of our responsibility to our children.