Updated on: Wednesday, December 08, 2010
Winter vacations in Kashmir schools have been cancelled to make up for the time lost during the four months of unrest in the region, the state government said.
Naseema Lankar, commissioner/ secretary (School Education) said, "Teachers will perform their duties during this period and they shall be entitled to earned leave benefits."
"It was a longstanding demand of the teachers in the valley that they be extended the benefits of earned leave and that demand has now been met," Lankar added.
All government and private schools at the secondary and higher secondary levels will remain open while those at the primary and middle levels will be shut for the winter vacations as usual.
To tackle winter temperatures that often fall below freezing point, officials are making adequate heating arrangements inside classrooms to ensure that children don not face any inconvenience. However, parents argue otherwise. Gulam Rasool, a concerned parent said, "What about the to-and-fro journey in sub-zero temperatures? It is tough for even elders to move about when roads become extremely slippery and it is dangerous."
"Bone fractures are common during winter because of slippery road conditions. How safely will the children move about in sub-zero temperatures remains to be seen," he added.