Amid shivering cold and prediction of fresh spell of snowfall in Kashmir, parents on Saturday demanded winter vacation in educational institutions across the Valley.
The parents said the new academic session has commenced inall private schools but the classrooms in majority of these institutions haveno heating arrangements for children. “Temperature has plummeted during pastfew days students are finding it difficult to leave for schools early in themorning. Small kids are the worst sufferers,” said Muhammad Shafi Ganai, aparent from Baramulla.
A group of parents said theauthorities in School Education Department should consider the ground situationand announce winter vacation for students up to middle classes.
As per the school timing fixed by the department, thestudents are supposed to reach their respective institutions by 10 am in areasfalling within Srinagar municipal limits, while as schools falling outsideSrinagar start functioning from 10:30 am. “Timings hardly matter as studentshave to reach their designated bus stops by 8 am as the buses arrive early,”parents said.
As already reported by Greater Kashmir, theDirectorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) had proposed that wintervacation for students up to 8th class be announced from Dec 14 while asvacation for higher class – 9th to 12th be announced from December 21. However,the higher-ups are yet to take a call.
The dates were proposed given the delay in commencement ofnew academic session in government educational institutions. The department haddecided to grant provisional admission to students in all classes and announceresult of term-II exams by December 12.
A top official in civil secretariat said the proposalsubmitted by the DSEK was modified by the Administrative Department keeping inview the poor visibility and decrease in temperature across Kashmir.
The official said the Administrative Department has decidedto announce winter vacations for students from kindergarten to class 8th fromDecember 9 while as for students from class 9th to 12th, the vacations will beannounced from December 16.
“The dates have been decided but the file has been sent toAdvisor’s office for formal approval. Once the dates are approved by theAdvisor, the vacations will be announced officially,” the official said.