After the culmination of winter vacations, nearly one million students of Kashmir Valley returned to their bases on Monday as all the schools opened.
Roads were beautified by small kids donning school uniforms for the first time in seven months following the centre’s unilateral move on Jammu and Kashmir that not only stripped the erstwhile state of its autonomy but also downgraded it into two union territories.
After three-month-long winter break and a seven-month-long disruption in the wake of the Centre’s decision, all the schools in the Valley opened on Monday.
“I put on my uniform for the first time since last year. The fear of getting targeted stopped me from wearing the uniform. We used to visit the school without uniform for either to pick up e-assignments or submit assignments to qualify for examinations. It was after a long, long time that I will sit with my friends to study again,” Mujeeb Bhat, a student of a private school in Srinagar said.
The uncertainty that gripped J&K forced hundreds of Valley schools to shut classes and stop bus services in the absence of communication services and the fear of street clashes.
Following a massive security clampdown, the J&K administration did try to re-start class work in phases from October last year, but failed to see a healthy attendance due to tension on the streets.
“The school management asked us to appear for the final examination last year without wearing uniforms. They did not want any trouble for the us,” said Ruqaya Nabi, a student of a government-run school in Amira Kadal of Srinagar.
“Students visiting the campus again in uniform will be a good omen for the education sector. No society can compromise with the education of their kids. There can’t be anything more regressive than denying education to students. We pray the Internet is restored and access to all websites is allowed again so that Kashmir’s children have equal access to the knowledge available online,” he said.
According to several teachers, the lack of high-speed Internet remains an area of concern. “From organising smart classes to alerting parents of students in closed WhatsApp groups to posting assignments on Facebook pages, the lack of full access to Internet will hamper teaching tools as well as the teacher-parent link,” a student of a private school in Budgam said.
All social media platforms, fast emerging as a major tool for school administrations across the world, remain banned in J&K.
Kashmir has 11,633 educational institutes, including 810 middle schools, 247 high schools and 37 higher secondary schools. Student enrolled up to the higher secondary level number 10.03 lakh, comprising 5.29 lakh male students and 4.74 lakh female students, according to official figures.
“All arrangements have been put in place to restart the session. Teachers have been directed to work with dedication for building capacities of students for the betterment of their future. Last year, the students proved their mettle and now it is our responsibility to extend our support to them and redouble efforts to get their syllabus completed well in time,” Mohammad Younis Malik, Director, School Education Kashmir, said.
The government ordered closure of all educational institutions on August 5, when centre scrapped Article 370 and 35 A, besides divided the state into two Union Territories. However, educational institutions reopened in winter capital, Jammu and Ladakh after about two weeks in a phased manner but remained closed in the valley.
After remaining closed for more than a month, government ordered reopening of primary and middle schools first followed by High and Higher Secondary Schools (HSS) and on October 9 colleges in the valley. However, students stay away and did not attended their classes in private and government institutions as parents were not ready to send their children to schools due to uneasy situation in the valley, including Srinagar.
Many private schools rented rooms in different localities to conduct examination for students while others promoted students on the basis of home assignments submitted by children.
But, despite schools remaining deserted, the Board of School Education (BOSE) held examinations for class 10th and 12 in the last week of October. Later, winter break was announced by the authorities.
Meanwhile, according to an official statement, Director of School Education, Kashmir, Mohammad Younis Malik today visited various schools of south and central Kashmir and expressed his satisfaction over the arrangements put in place for the resumption of academic activities in the educational institution across Kashmir Division after winter break.
He was accompanied by District Development Commissioner Shopian, Choudary Mohammad Yaseen and Chief Education Officer Shopian Mohammad Mushtaq.
The Director visited Government HSS Heerpora, Shopian, Girls HSS Shopian and BHS Shopian.
Interacting with the students, he urged them to focus on their studies, work for the betterment of their future and for welfare of the Society.
The Director also interacted with the teachers and emphasized upon them to work with dedication. He asked the Heads of the Institutions to maintain cleanliness in their institutions.