As the cold has increased and temperature dropped considerably in the Valley, the demand for early winter vacation for schools, especially for lower classes, is getting shriller. The parents and the private schools association have urged the government that in order to prevent children from facing health hazards the early winter vacations should be announced this year.
Over the past few days, temperatures across Kashmir have plummeted significantly, plunging well below the seasonal averages. This unexpected early onset of winter has become troublesome for the school going children, who have to confront biting cold, haze and dense fog in the early morning.
Adding to the woes of the students is the lack of adequate heating facilities in most of the schools. The classrooms and common areas in the school remain uncomfortably cold, providing no respite to the students from the biting cold.
Due to the increase in cold, parents are worried about the adverse impact of weather on their children’s health and academic performance.
According to doctors, exposure to prolonged periods of cold can have detrimental effects on respiratory health, and the inability to focus in such an environment can hinder their learning.
“In this biting cold, especially in the mornings, it is almost cruel to have kids attend schools. There has been no disturbance in class work during this academic year and the government must announce early winter break to safeguard the health of the school going kids,” said a parent, Zahoor Ahmed.
“The government should announce winter vacation for pre-primary classes. It is really challenging for kids to move out in the morning for school in haze, dense fog and icy winds,” said another parent Gulzar Ahmed.
The Private Schools Association of Jammu and Kashmir (PSAJK) has extended its support for demands of early winter vacations in the schools, especially for lower classes, due to the prevailing cold wave conditions.
A spokesman of PSAJK said they have been receiving representations from a number of parents and even schools about the inclement weather conditions.
"For a 4-year-old kid, it is extremely difficult to get up early and get ready for school during this weather. We are not a developed nation where houses, buses, and schools are all centrally heated. We have to adjust according to the weather," he said. "Even for parents, it is a difficult task to prepare their wards for schools."
The Association said that exposure to extreme foggy conditions and minus temperatures can have a negative impact on the health of children.
“At schools too, these children are not able to focus, thus the entire exercise of classes goes to waste. "In order to safeguard the health of our children, we ask the government to announce the winter vacations as early as possible," the PSAJK spokesman said.
The PSAJK also reiterated its demand for re-adjusting the academic calendar in accordance with the local temperature.
"We have time and again conveyed to the government that the March session is not feasible for Kashmir. Our schools usually complete their syllabus by November. We have harsh winters, and during the March session, these months are simply lost, as students don't know whether to revise old lessons or use the time to study the syllabus of new classes," the PSAJK spokesman said.
The Association said the government should align the academic calendar of Kashmir in accordance with local weather conditions
"The March session has created numerous problems, and it needs to be dealt with before more damage is done. The October session is a norm in almost every country that has harsh winters and we are not demanding something extraordinary," added PSAJK spokesman.