Parents Demand Short-Term Summer Break as Kashmir Endures Heat Waves

Parents Demand Short-Term Summer Break as Kashmir Endures Heat Waves

Ashiq Butt | July 23, 2024 | 09:01 PM IST | Educational News, Jammu Kashmir, Kashmir | Follow on Google News

Parents Demand Short-Term Summer Break as Kashmir Endures Heat Waves

Parents Demand Short-Term Summer Break as Kashmir Endures Heat Waves

Key Highlights:

1. Parents argue that shifting school hours fails to address core heat-related issues.
2. Schools lack adequate cooling infrastructure, making classrooms hotter than outdoors.
3. Calls for short-term summer vacations grow louder for student relief.

As heat waves continue to grip the Kashmir Valley, the Director of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) has changed school timings from 8 am to 1 pm, effective from today until August 10.

However, this decision has sparked significant backlash from parents, who argue that the change is inadequate and will not address the core issue.

Parents from several parts of Kashmir are criticizing the order, saying it does not bring relief to students. Many are demanding short-term summer vacations to avoid further inconvenience.

Speaking with the Kashmir News Service, Farooq Ahmad, a parent from Baramulla, said that shifting school hours to the morning does not change the fact that children are exposed to high temperatures.

He pointed out that many schools do not have proper seating arrangements, making it difficult for students to concentrate in the heat. Additionally, classrooms in the valley are not air-conditioned.

In recent weeks, Jammu & Kashmir have experienced record-high temperatures, making daily activities uncomfortable and unsafe, particularly for younger students who are more susceptible to extreme weather conditions.

Many schools lack adequate cooling infrastructure, leaving classrooms hotter than outdoor temperatures and creating a challenging environment for effective learning.

Another parent, Fozia, highlighted that most schools do not even have drinking water facilities. “It is important to keep children hydrated in this scorching heat. Instead of changing timings, if the government announces a short-term summer break, it will bring some relief,” she said.

Fozia added that most schools lack cooling facilities like fans, coolers, or AC, which makes classrooms hotter than the outside temperature. “At several places, students travel more than 3-4 km in this scorching heat. How can that student then focus on his studies in his school?” she questioned.

As the heat wave persists, the call for a short-term summer break grows louder, with parents urging the government to prioritize the well-being of students.

Ashiq Butt

Ashiq Butt – is VoM News's senior staffer worked since year 2015 and he deals with correspondency and social media handles. Hailing from Doda's Marmat, Ashiq has strong grip over the collection of the data and it's compiling feature.