Srinagar, Sept 26: Parents from several rural and far-flung areas of Kashmir valley have appealed to the government to revise school timings, saying that the existing early morning schedule exposes children to cold and causes hardship in the ongoing season.
The appeal, addressed to the Education Minister, comes from families residing in hilly belts and remote villages where temperatures dip considerably in the morning. A group of parents from South Kashmir told the news agency Kashmir News Trust that children, particularly those in primary and middle classes, are finding it difficult to leave homes in the chilly hours and travel long distances to reach schools.
“Sending small children out so early in the morning is proving tough. The cold winds and low temperatures at dawn make it unbearable. We are not against discipline, but timings should match the local conditions,” they said.
Parents from North Kashmir’s Baramulla and Bandipora echoed similar concerns and urged the Education Department to issue a separate directive for rural and highland schools so that children are not forced to attend classes in cold and unhealthy conditions. [KNT]
