Students shiver as winter schooling begins in Kashmir

Thursday December 16, 2010 03:17:47 PM, IANS

Srinagar: Winter schooling has started in nearly 650 schools of Kashmir Valley, but the lack of heating arrangements in these institutions is worrying parents as most students are shivering their way through the classes.

"It was very nice to go to school, but despite wearing a 'pheran' (tweed overgarment worn by locals to ward off the winter cold), I literally shivered inside the classroom," said Shabir Ahmad, a Class 10 student in south Kashmir's Pulwama district.

It is bitterly cold in Kashmir. While the minimum temperature was minus 4.1 degrees Celsius in Srinagar Thursday, in south Kashmir the minimum in most places was around minus 6 and in north Kashmir, it was around minus 5.

Winter schooling began Wednesday in 272 secondary and 373 higher secondary schools of the valley for Classes 9, 10, 11 and 12 even as schools remain closed for other classes.

For the first time since 1885 when modern education was started in the valley during the reign of Dogra Maharaja Pratap Singh, schools have been ordered to remain open during the winter months of December, January and February instead of closing them down during the period due to the extreme cold as has been the tradition.

The decision was taken to compensate for the loss of over four months of classes when schools remained closed in the valley due to unrest from June 11.

The authorities have reportedly sanctioned Rs.25,000 for each school to arrange for heating inside classrooms during the winter months.

But parents and students are complaining that heating arrangements have still not been made for students who shiver in sub-zero temperatures hitting the valley these days.

Parents are concerned as the children have to brave the bitter cold to reach their schools in the mornings.

"My child dressed up early in the morning Wednesday to attend school, but when he came back home in the afternoon he had red hands and a red nose, indicating the winter chill he had suffered at school," said Ali Muhammad, 45, a local contractor.

The school authorities, however, insist that all heating arrangements would be in place within the next one or two days and the students would not be allowed to suffer on this count.

"We have instructed all the principals to ensure that the heating arrangements are in place by Thursday," said a senior official of the school education department here.

                                           Home | Top of the Page

Top Stories

Hopes of fresh impetus to ties as PM, Wen begin talks

India and China Thursday began crucial delegation level talks here with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao Thursday hoping for "strategic consensus" and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh stating   »

Chinese Premier Wen arrives in India, visits Delhi school

India, China ink six pacts, activate hotline between PMs

  Most Read

A moving biography of Prophet Muhammad

A new English biography of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), titled "The Soul of the Desert" has been published in an epic but fascinating form, narrating the life of the last Messenger of God from his birth to death. Written   »

Abu Dhabi to host World Orchestra for Peace

Abu Dhabi will host the World Orchestra for Peace Jan 4 that will see performances by a plethora of critically acclaimed international artists, it was announced Wednesday. The event is being organised as part of the Abu Dhabi Festival 2011 at the Emirates Palace.   »

  News Pick

India tops Forbes list of best countries for new jobs next year

India has pulled ahead of China to take first place in the Forbes list of best countries for new jobs next year, with a whopping 42 percent net hiring outlook for the first quarter of 2011. China follows close behind at 40 percent, a 2  »

US school in trouble for denying Haj leave to teacher

The US federal government sued a suburban Chicago school district on Monday for continually refusing permission to a Muslim middle schoolteacher to take unpaid leave so she could perform Haj, reports Arab News   »

Post office, food courts, tented township - all set for Congress plenary

Food courts resembling airport hangars, a conference hall large enough for a sprint race, rows of neatly laid out tents and even a post office - an elaborate, makeshift township on the   »

Students shiver as winter schooling begins in Kashmir

Winter schooling has started in nearly 650 schools of Kashmir Valley, but the lack of heating arrangements in these institutions is worrying parents as most students are shivering their way through the classes   »

Kids cry for help as 27 die in Australia boat capsize

Children as young as three years old screamed for help as they clung desperately to pieces of wreckage after a boat carrying about 70 Asian asylum seekers crashed into rocks Wednesday at Christmas Island off Australia,  »