Mubashir Bukhari

Srinagar (NVI): Educational institutions in Kashmir reopened today after remaining shut for nearly seven months following the abrogation of Article 370, in August last year.

Long queues of students wearing school bags and going to the schools were seen this morning.

“We are happy to come back to our schools after a long time,” said one of the students.

The parents were seeing accompanying their wards, while many students were seen exchanging pleasantries with their friends.

“We are happy that our kids are going to school today. Last year, education sector was badly hit,” said Rahim Ahmad, a parent.

On December 9 last year, the government had ordered winter vacation for all government educational institutions and recognised private schools up to higher secondary level from December 10 to February 22, 2020.

Every year, schools in the Valley break for winter vacations from December 15 to March 1. But this year, after the tension, while offices and other departments resumed normal work, students have stayed away from schools mostly after August 5.

The government resumed schools officially, but they mostly remained empty. This year, while the winter break is being announced, a majority of students will miss seven straight months of their classwork.

Kashmir School Education Director Mohammad Younis Malik said all arrangements had been put in place and the timing for the schools falling within Srinagar’s municipal limits will be 10 am-3 pm, while in the rest of Kashmir division, the timing will be 10.30 am-3.30 pm.

The director urged the teachers to work with dedication for building capacities of the students for their better future.

“It’s our responsibility to extend our support to them and redouble efforts to get their syllabus completed well in time,” the director said.

He instructed the field officers to visit schools regularly to monitor the follow up of academic planner for timely accomplishment of the set targets.