Change in school timings

In view of the heatwave the timings in the government and recognised private schools up to the higher secondary level in Kashmir and the summer zones of Jammu division have been changed. The new timing for the school children has been fixed from 8 am to 1 pm. However,  the teaching and the non-teaching staff have been directed to attend their duties till 2 pm.  The School Education Department (SED) authorities said that earlier several representations were received from parents and other stakeholders regarding change in school timings for students due to the ongoing heatwave.

The SED order has evoked a mixed response. Some are supporting it,  while some others opposing and demanding fresh summer vacation or online classes from home. Those supporting it say that this was the only option left for the authorities as fresh summer vacations could have resulted in the syallabus not getting completed. Those opposing say that the school children or the teachers, posted at far off places, will have to leave much early and that public transport is not available sufficiently at that time. Even some object to the kids leaving from schools for respective homes at 1pm  in scorching heat. So the discussion goes on. Steps need to be taken to protect the school children from the heatwave but at the same time their studies  must not get affected. Both the parents and the school education authorities must think humanely and practically also. Right now the heatwave is a problem and steps should be taken inside the schools to address it. But sometimes whenever the temperature rises or it rains heavily voices are being raised on social media by some parents or others for closure of schools.

Closing down the schools is not always a solution. Because such a step affects the studies of the children. Other possible options too must be explored so that the students do not suffer. Not all students study in private schools or have  private tuition facility or educated  family members to teach them. Large number of children go to government schools and  do not have other facilities available. Unnecessary closure of schools hampers their studies and affects their performance in examinations. Some over- protective parents sometimes make unrealistic demands. Rather than unnecessarily demanding frequent closure of schools , they  must demand better facilities for their children in schools to protect them from hot weather and cold. The children have to be slowly made to learn to deal with the emerging smaller practical problems during their school days. That way they can emerge stronger later in their lives. Otherwise, there is an apprehension of they developing the tendency of always blaming others and not themselves in case of a problem.