Srinagar, July 8(KNS): The Jammu and Kashmir government’s decision to resume both morning school and online classes for students from Class 6 to 12 after the summer break has stirred debate, but education officials and several parents say the move is practical and aims to strike a balance between academic continuity and weather conditions.
As per the School Education Department (SED) order issued on Monday, schools across Kashmir and winter zones of Jammu reopened on July 8 after a 15-day summer vacation. The new school timings are set from 7:30 am to 11:30 am within municipal areas and from 8 am to 12 noon in rural areas.
Following the in-person classes, students of Class 6 to 12 will attend additional online classes—between 12:30 pm and 2 pm in municipal areas, and 1 pm to 2:30 pm in non-municipal zones. Primary classes (Class 1 to 5) are exempted from the online component.
Director of School Education Kashmir, G.N. Itoo told KNS that this move was taken into consideration with a good aim. "We wanted to make sure that students remain academically connected even during shorter school hours," he said.
He also said, “It’s not about burdening students. It’s about using time wisely while also adjusting to the heat.”
“It’s a balanced step in the current conditions,” Itoo said.
The change in academic schedule comes as temperatures across several parts of the Valley are rising. Itoo pointed out that other states with similar or higher temperatures, like Delhi, Punjab, and Rajasthan are already running schools in morning shifts with blended learning.
“We are not alone. Many other states where temperatures go beyond 35 degrees are doing the same.”
Parents, too, are beginning to see the reasoning behind the policy.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelFayaz Ahmad, father of a Class 9 student, said, “They are not giving more holidays, and that is good. If my child is free by noon, why not continue some studies from home?”
Shazia Akhtar, mother of a Class 7 student, said, “The weather is hot. Morning time is better. "It's somehow a good decision by the government. Keeping the vacation going wasn’t really an option either."
"It's a better decision by the government. What will children do if the heatwave continues for another 15 days? Extending summer vacations was not the solution. Sometimes, we have to consider alternatives," said Gulam Mustafa, a retired principal.
Another parent, Bashir Lone, said, “It is better than wasting another week in the name of summer. They are already on break for 15 days.”
Abdul Rashid, whose son studies in Class 12, added, “We have board exams this year. This will help. They need every day of learning.”
The SED has directed schools to follow the new schedule in letter and spirit. Officials say this model ensures that students are not idle for the rest of the day and continue learning in a flexible, lighter format.
Kashmir Weather, the independent forecaster, has advised that there is no need to extend the summer break. With temperatures already starting to gradually decrease since last Sunday and expected to remain comfortable for at least a week, the forecast models show strong confidence in this cooling trend.
It pointed out that temperatures around 31–32°C are normal for July and that the month won’t behave like the hotter months of April or October, making it unnecessary to prolong vacation time.(KNS).