Not possible to announce another summer vacation for schools: Div Com Kashmir

Srinagar, July 26: Amid the demand over the announcement of another summer vacation for schools, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri Friday said that there was no scope for announcement of summer vacations again for the schools in Kashmir.

Talking to reporters during his visit to Pratap Park in Srinagar, the divisional commissioner said that if parents felt that the heat wave was becoming unbearable and their children could not cope with it, there would be no issue with the child’s attendance during this period.

“We have to consider many factors like ensuring the entire syllabus is completed. We have already changed the school timings and fixed it from 8 am to 1 pm. The decision was taken considering the rising temperature,” he said.

However, Bidhuri said that many parents were now saying that their children were not getting enough sleep.

“Currently, we are discussing the heatwave, but once winter arrives, there will be demands for early announcement of winter vacations. We have to take care of everything: the children’s well-being, the curriculum, and all other factors associated with the students,” he said.

The Directorate of School Education in Kashmir and Jammu divisions ordered changes in the school timings for all government and private recognised schools up to the higher secondary level to provide a respite to the school children from the prevailing heat wave.

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 heatwave prevailing in J&K.

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 and other districts and areas of Kashmir province was fixed as 10 am to 4 pm.

“We changed the timings due to excessive heat. But now the Meteorological Department is forecasting that the weather will improve from Sunday evening," the divisional commissioner said.

However, he said that even if the weather would not change, announcing another summer vacation would not be a solution.