Heatwave: Teachers, parents urge school timing change or add'l summer break
Riyaz Bhat
Srinagar, July 22: With the persistent heatwave in Kashmir, teachers and parents on Monday urged the School Education Department to either adjust school timings or announce an additional summer break.
Speaking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), General Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir Teacher Association (JKTA) Hatim Qayoom said the persistent heatwave is affecting the studies badly and the concerned should consider the change in school timing in both rural and urban areas.
“Due to the extremely hot weather conditions, nowadays, students in schools are feeling low mostly from afternoon onwards. This is affecting their studies badly,” Qayoom said.
He requested the concerned authorities to take appropriate measures in this regard.
Meanwhile, a delegation of various fronts visited the Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) in this regard.
Parents of the students have also urged the government either to change the timing of schools or extend the summer break.
One of the parents of a student, Manzoor Ahmad said the current weather conditions in Kashmir were not favourable for the students to attend the classes.
He however said that schooling is also important for students. “The government should either announce further summer vacations or shall change the timing of schools immediately," he said.
Another parent said he has decided to keep his son back at home till the weather situation improves. “Nothing is more important than the health of my son. I can bear this loss but I can’t compromise the health of my child,” he said.
Pertinently, Kashmir Valley is reeling under intense heat waves and the MeT department has informed that the situation will almost remain the same for at least a week.
Director of School Education Kashmir Tassaduq Hussain Mir was not available for their comments.
Meanwhile, top officials of the School Education Department said that they were assessing the situation in this regard. “We will seek suggestions from the concerned stakeholders and will take a call accordingly,” the official said.
Earlier on June 30, the School Education Department announced summer break for all schools falling in winter zones from July 08 to 17—(KNO)
