Decision to change school timings evokes mixed response from stakeholders

Srinagar, July 23: The decision to change the timing of schools up to the higher secondary level in Kashmir and the summer zones of Jammu division on Tuesday evoked a mixed response from the stakeholders.

Amid the ongoing heat wave, the Directorate of the School in Kashmir and Jammu division ordered a change in the school timings for all government and privately recognised schools up to higher secondary level, in a bid to provide a respite to the school children.

The new timing for the schools has been fixed from 8 am to 1 pm for the school children while the teaching and the non-teaching staff have been directed to attend their duties till 2 pm.

As per the order, the new arrangement would continue till August 15, 2024.

The decision was taken after representations about change in school timings poured in from parents and other stakeholders amidst the intense heat wave prevailing in Jammu and Kashmir.

Earlier the timing of the schools falling under municipal limits of Srinagar district was 9 am to 3 pm while the timing for schools falling outside municipal limits of Srinagar, other districts and areas of Kashmir province was fixed as 10 am to 4 pm.

“Whereas, several representations are pouring in from parents and other stakeholders regarding change in school timings for students due to the ongoing heat wave. According to the weather forecast, the same conditions are expected to continue in the coming days as well,” the order reads. “Now therefore, in view of the above and considering the requests from parents and various stakeholders, as well as the weather forecast, class work in all government and recognised private schools up to the Higher Secondary level in the Kashmir division shall commence from 8 am to 1 pm in both rural and urban areas.”

An order issued by the Director of School Education Jammu said that all the schools in summer zones of Jammu division “shall commence from 8 am to 1 pm”.

It reads that the teaching and the non-teaching staff will attend their duties till 2 pm.

Amid the change in the school timing, the stakeholders have voiced concern that the new schedule will not effectively shield students from the “intense heat wave”.

“Starting school at 8 am means children residing at a distance from the school will have to wake up in the wee hour to get ready for school as their school buses arrive around one and a half hours ahead of the school timings,” said Muhammad Suhail, a parent from Soura whose kids are studying in a school situated in the city centre.

He said that leaving schools at 1 pm would still expose kids to high temperatures for a significant part of the day.

“By the time they leave school at 1 pm, the heat is at its peak, and the journey towards home in crowded school buses will be unbearable,” he said.

The school teachers while expressing their concern said that the decision to change school hours was well intentioned but it will not offer a substantial solution to the small kids.

“Students will be in school during the hottest hours and face the same risks of heat exhaustion,” said Sabba Jaan, another parent from Srinagar.

Some parents advocated for one one-week summer break particularly for the kindergarten children.

“The students of higher classes can manage in schools during changed school hours. But kindergarten kids cannot bear this heat,” said Muhammad Saleem, a parent from Baramulla.

A school proprietor from north Kashmir told Greater Kashmir that the change in school timing will not bear good fruits for the small kids.

“Once taken out of their homes in the early morning, the small kids will be sleepy in the classroom. Their sleeping cycle will be disturbed. The authorities should have announced a one-week summer break for school kids up to 1st primary,” he said.

President of the Private Schools Association Jammu and Kashmir (PSAJK), Ghulam Nabi Var said that considering the completion of the syllabus, change in school timing was the only option.

“If another vacation period is announced for schools it will adversely impact the completion of the syllabus,” Var said.