Valley schools reopen to good attendance

Students were forced to stay away from classes for more than six months due to communication blackout, lockdown

SRINAGAR: Schools in the Kashmir Valley reopened on Monday after remaining mostly closed following the abrogation of the Constitution’s Article 370 that stripped Jammu & Kashmir of its special status in August.

The government announced the reopening of educational institutes in phases last year. However, students stayed away from classes first because of a communications blackout and a lockdown that were imposed to prevent protests against the nullification and later a shutdown that followed when the curbs were eased.

On December 10, the government announced over twomonth winter break after examinations were held on time in October and November.

School education director (Kashmir) Mohammad Younis Malik said the students and teachers turned up in good numbers on Monday.

“Everybody was happy and the atmosphere was joyous. Even in far-flung and snowbound areas, the attendance was good,” Malik said. He said the attendance in most schools ranged between 70% to 100%. Around 1.2 million students study in as many as 13,800 schools across the Valley.

Faheem Ahmad, a class 9 student in Srinagar, said he was excited to return to school on Monday. “Staying home for six months had made life so boring. I am so happy...”

Private Schools Association president GN War said most students turned up for classes. “Many schools had planned activities to interact with students on Monday. There were tears of joy in the eyes of many students and even teachers,” he said.

Mohammad Ishaq, the father of a 13-year-old school-going daughter, said the break was so long that the school shoes she wore six months back did not fit her anymore. “She wore the shoes after months and they were hurting her. I had to rush to a footwear shop in the morning to replace her shoes. That sums up the whole story of education here,” he said.

Despite no class work in schools last year, the administration had conducted examinations for Classes 5 to 9 in government schools while most of the private schools evaluated students based on home assignments.

Board examinations for Class 10, 11 and 12 in all government and private schools were also held as per schedule.

“We had good results which prove that the students had studied very hard. This is the reason students are enthusiastic to join classes for the new academic session,” Malik said.

Athar Ahmad, a teacher and an administrator at a private school in Srinagar, said the attendance on the first day was almost 100% and there was more enthusiasm among students. “Kids were saying they missed school. The weather was also pleasant. We hope that the situation remains good. The students suffered a lot during these months. It has happened for the first time that schools remained closed for such a long period.”

The attendance in most schools ranged between 70% to 100%. Everybody was happy and the atmosphere was joyous. Even in far-flung and snow-bound areas, the attendance was good. MOHAMMAD YOUNIS MALIK , director, school education (Kashmir)