Srinagar, Nov 22: The Jammu and Kashmir Government is likely to cancel the winter vacations in the Valley educational institutions to compensate the losses suffered by the students due to the recent unrest.
Though no formal decision has be announced in this regard, officials said the government would cancel the two and a half month vacations for the students of secondary and higher secondary institutions.
“It is under active consideration of the government. The government might cancel the vacations for secondary and higher secondary classes from 9th class onwards,” said Secretary, School Education, Naseema Lankar.
Asked for the reasons, she said much time of the students got wasted during the recent unrest. “We don’t want that the students should be at loss and canceling the vacations will compensate it,” she said.
Officials assert that government would provide all facilities for the students including heating arrangements during the winter months.
Officials said the Minister for School Education, Peerzada Muhammad Sayeed, was in touch with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on the issue.
All the educational institutions in the Valley were closed for over three months following unrest over the killing of civilians in police and CRPF action. A total of 112 civilians were killed since June 11 this year.
Following a long break, on September 26 the government announced opening of the schools. However the move got little response as parents were worried about the safety of their wards.
However following an improvement in the situation for past two months the students returned to the schools as government announced holding examinations for different classes.
Chairman Jammu and Kashmir Teachers Forum, Abdul Qayoom Wani, welcomed the government’s move saying it should ensure availability of infrastructure and fulfill teachers’ demands to bring them at par with other government employees in leave encashment.
“Let government provide the necessary facilities for the students in the schools including heating arrangements, the teachers will have no problem in continuing the class work. The teachers should also be provided the benefits of leave encashment,” he said.
However, providing the facilities would be a big challenge for the government. Most of the schools in the summer capital, not to talk of institutes in villages and remote areas, are without basic facilities like proper doors and windowpanes to counter the chill.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 22 Nov 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 22 Nov 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 23 Nov 2010 00:00:00 IST