Srinagar: The continuous extension in the winter vacation over past few weeks in Kashmir Valley has once again exposed the policies of state Government and has made it clear that in absence of heating arrangements in schools, Government is left with only option- to shut the schools. With the latest extension, the already three month long winter vacation crossed the mark of 100 days and yet the Government instead of making some necessary arrangements in the schools seems in deep slumber and issues fresh dates of extension. People have questioned the state Government for its ‘poor policies’ while dealing with bad weather conditions and said it is unfortunate that the state government had turned ‘Kashmir Valley into a region of vacations.’ “We have become a state of vacations. Just a look at the number of days that we end up wasting in the year will explain that.Ideally, Government and schools should ensure heating arrangements in schools rather than going for the easier way of shutting them down,”said Muhammad Shuja, a student. Schools in Kashmir Valley would be closed for almost six months this year as apart from 107 days of winter vacation which the schools in Kashmir already observed just few days remaining, the number of state holidays and Sundays as per the calendar also counts more than two months. The number does not stop here as in month of June and July, Kashmir too witnesses increase in the mercury and no one can forget the routine 10 to 15 days of summer vacation which takes the toll almost to six months. Sobia Bhat, a Kashmiri student studying in Delhi’s Hindu College said that the number of more holidays in schools in Kashmir compared to other parts of India largely affects the education of Kashmiris. “Because of more days of vacation in Kashmir, Kashmiri students lag behind their counter mates outside. We are not taught intensely and the main aim of education gets reduced to mere completion of syllabus,” she said adding “Teachers also restrain themselves to mere questions being asked in the exams as they have to show their courses completed at the end.” Professor Nisar Ali, Advisor to state Government’s Higher Education Department told Kashmir Monitor that ofcourse the extension in the winter vacation has definite fallout on the education system in Kashmir. “The only way through which the loss could be compensated isthat additional classes have to be taken by teachers, once the schools will reopen,” he said. He said, “We have to look for the change of academic session now because that is the only way, we can provide more benefit to our students in terms of better education.” General Secretary of Private Schools United Front and Chairman Coaching Centers Association, G N War said that it is because of the poor policies of Government that Kashmiri students have to face various difficulties to compete with their counter mates from other states during the national competitive exams. War alleged that the state Government has never taken education as a serious matter which has badly hit the education system in the state. “Because of the wrong policies of Government that we produce a generation of illiterates with degrees,” he said adding that “does it mean that Government will close down the schools till next month if the same weather conditions continue because as per the details available on Accu Weather, bad weather would continue in Kashmir for the whole month of March.” Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Shalinder Kumar while addressing a press conference on Saturday stated that the administration was fully prepared to tackle the problems posed by the snowfall as predicted by weather department. Kumar said that educational
Posted on: Thu, 20 Mar 2014 16:30:07 +0000