Four days after winter vacations ended and classwork in schools across Kashmir re-started, students of this government middle school in Frislan of Pahalgam must still tread mounds of accumulated snow in the compound and corridors of its modest building.
Pictures of several feet of snow students and teachers aliketread through to reach their classrooms go to show callousness of authoritiestowards the immense inconvenience.
Dozens of schools in remote villages across Kashmir werefound snowbound as classes resumed after three months of winter vacation,resulting in thin attendance of students.
The government middle school Frislan falls underjurisdiction of zone Ashmuqam in Anantnag district of south Kashmir. Thestudents who joined the school with much enthusiasm and determination wereapparently disappointed to see the school building difficult to reach.
“Snow has got accumulated in our classrooms and corridorswhich creates impediments for us while entering,” said Waheeda Jan, a class 7thstudent of the school.
The students mostly in their casuals tread in a queue topass through the narrow approach road leading to their school, dug throughaccumulated snow by laborers hired by the staff.
“It takes 15 minutes for us to reach our school from home.But we get frightened while passing this narrow lane covered with snow,” Jansaid.
The school has four teachers for its 150 students, contraryto norms which lay down a staff strength of eight for smooth functioning ofclasses.
“It is not only about snow clearance but generally thedepartment has ignored this school on other fronts as well. Despite having hugeenrollment the school lacks adequate accommodation,” said Fayaz Ahmad, a localresident, adding that the official apathy mars the enthusiasm of theschoolchildren.
Earlier, director school education Kashmir had stated thatthe department was collecting details of snowbound educational institutions.
But no snow clearance was undertaken in many schools sinceopening after winter vacations.
Chief education officer (CEO) Anantnag, Abdul Rub Shadadmitted that the Frislan school witnessed a very thin attendance due toaccumulation of snow in its premises and the road leading to this school.
“Directions were given to the concerned ZEO after which anapproach road was made for the students to attend the classes. But theattendance is thin,” Shad said.