Schools to remain open during winter in Kashmir Valley

Updated on: Monday, November 22, 2010

For the benefit of students who lost three crucial months of education as violent protests overwhelmed the Kashmir Valley during summer, the Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to keep schools open in winter.

"We have decided to keep High and Higher Secondary schools open for one to two months out of the winter holidays period to compensate the loss of education to students in the Kashmir Valley during the agitation," State Education Minister Peerzada Mohmmad Sayeed said.

"The students of 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th standards will be taught the syllabus which they could not complete due to the three-month long agitation in the Valley," he said.

Sayeed, who is the brain behind this plan, said heating facilities would be provided to the students and teachers in order to keep classes going on during the chilly winter months.

"Nearly Rs 6 crores would be spent on providing heating facilities to these schools. A project seeking funds in this regard has been sent to the Chief Minister," he said.

The state's Education Ministry, which took the bold step during the agitation to reopen schools with full support of students and parents in particular, was instrumental in breaking the cycle of violent agitation in the Kashmir Valley, Peerzada said.

"Reopening of the schools was a setback to the elements opposed to peace and progress in Kashmir. Parents, students and the common man in the Valley felt suffocated by the agitation," the minister said.

"I thank parents and students for their courage to help us in saving this academic session," he said.

Schools to remain open during winter in Kashmir Valley

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