Srinagar, Nov 27: While the state government is still in dilemma over the continuation of schooling during winters, the authorities on Friday said there was no “proper strategy” in place to implement the proposed move.
Sources said though the school education department had submitted Rs 6.44 crore proposal to the state government for making available heating and other related facilities in schools for more than 2.72 lakh students of 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th during winters, there has been no response from the government to the proposal.
“There is no concrete strategy in place to go ahead with the proposed move. The government has not issued any formal orders cancelling the winter vacation,” sources said. Usually the winter vacation in the Valley schools starts from December 15 every year.
The minister for School Education, Peerzada Muhammad Sayeed had last week said government would continue with the schooling for the students of secondary and higher secondary classes during winters. He said the move was aimed at “compensating” the losses suffered by the students due to the closure of the educational institutions for more than three months during the summer unrest in the Valley. The decision would have to be implemented by the private educational institutions too, said a top official of education department.
“In this regard the divisional commissioner’s office held a meeting with the authorities of private educational institutions earlier this month, and they welcomed the decision,” official sources said.
If the government decides to go ahead with the proposed move, sources said the department would have to provide heating facilities to more than 848 educational institutes including 290 Higher Secondary and 558 High Schools.
“After the government approval, the matter will go to the Division Level Purchase Committee which deals with the purchases. The department has given a tentative proposal for more than 5500 coal heaters besides some rough estimates for the hard coke and wood. At least we need one heater for every classroom and after proper assessment their numbers may go up,” sources said.
Asked how long would it take the department to arrange the facilities once it gets government nod, sources said obviously it would take between 20 to 25 days. “The procedure will not involve inviting tenders and the department can purchase the required facilities on the approved rates by the government on short term quotation basis,” sources said.
However, officials argue except for the heating arrangement, the required infrastructure and manpower was already in place in the institutes and there was no need to panic.
“Only 66 educational institutes-High Schools--are functioning in rented buildings but they too are well equipped with infrastructure,” officials asserted, adding the government would have to continue with the services of the contractual teachers for the winter season also in comparison to the normal period of nine months otherwise.
“No doubt there will be some challenges in implementing the decision but the move can go a long way in setting the things right for future,” the education department official said.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 27 Nov 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 27 Nov 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 28 Nov 2010 00:00:00 IST