Majid Ahmad
srinagar, Mar 16: With weekly strike calendars of separatists taking toll on the education of students some of the leading public schools in Kashmir valley are mulling to hold classes on Sundays to compensate the time lost due to strikes and curfews.
After the Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru was hanged last month in Delhi's Tihar jail, separatists have been issuing weekly protest calendars causing loss of school days which has put the future of students at stake.
Reports said the Delhi Public School (DPS) in the Kashmir valley has taken a lead and decided to keep its schools open on Sundays to make up for the lost classes and to conduct year-end examination due this month.
A DPS communique to parents today said it would hold classes on Sunday. "The DPS is among very few schools in Kashmir valley that follow the CBSE calendar and holds final exams in March instead of December like other schools here. But half of March, which is crucial for DPS students, is already marred by curfews and shutdowns," Altaf Ahmad, a parent said.
Sources said several other schools in the Valley may follow the lead in coming days if separatists don't stop issuing weekly protest calendars. The schools and college re-opened in the Valley on March 11 after a long winter vacation of over three months. However, only two days of class work was possible this week due to strikes and protests.
A principal of a private school said that they have no option but to keep the school open on Sundays to make up the lost time. "Separatists don't call for a shutdown on Sundays. Last time also in 2010 we had followed the same pattern to make up for the lost time due to unending strikes and curfews," he added.
Questioning the wisdom of separatists who have been calling strikes for months together since last few years, a political observer said, "One hartal or two hartals in a year, is understandable. If we don't allow our children to go to the schools, where will be the human resources to make it a great nation which we dream of? It is a self-inflicted wound, which desperately needs a re-think." |
