Fresh start: Schools reopen in Kashmir after months
SRINAGAR: Despite rain, children in Kashmir valley jostled to schools on Wednesday after over two months of winter vacation.
The laughter, chit-chat and joy of children going to school had become a rare sight in the Valley for the past eight months after the region plunged into a crisis and schools were closed for five months following the killing of Hizb-ul Mujahideen militant commander Burhan Wani on July 8.
Although some of the schools opened in November and December occasionally (mainly on weekends) following improvement in the situation and relaxation in shutdowns by separatists but regular schooling remained amiss for most of the period. The winter vacation was announced on December 17.
Meanwhile, four -year-old Maleeha of Old City surprised her parents when she asked them: “What should I do if the teacher asks me to write ABC. I don’t remember alphabets anymore.”
“That is what schools are meant for. You will have to relearn them,” her mother responded, while seeing her off in the school bus.
Parents are equally happy. “It is a relief that finally the schools have reopened and there is no threat of a strike or curfew,” said Mushtaq Ahmad, parent of three schoolgoing children.
“We also request schools and teachers to put in extra efforts this year so that the loss in education of our children will be compensated,” he said.
After closure of the schools last year, the government cancelled examinations up to Class 9 and promoted the students to next level.Following political debates, the state government decided to hold examinations of Class 10 and 12 twice.
In the first instance, the exams were held in November with 50% syllabus in which over 98 percent students participated. For the rest of students, the exams are expected to take place this month with full syllabus.
Former chief minister and National Conference working president Omar Abdullah was self censuring. “Eight months away from school. Shame on us for messing with our kids’ futures regardless of our political point of view or our ideology,” he wrote on Twitter.
After Burhan’s death, normal life remained out of gear for over five months, during which more than 90 people were killed and thousands injured. More than 25 schools were burnt in the ensuing chaos.