Srinagar, Jul 05 (KNO): In view of ongoing heatwave, the Private Schools’ Association Jammu Kashmir (PSAJK), Kashmir Trade Alliance (KTA) and Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Saturday pitches for morning classes or extension in summer break for schools of Kashmir respectively.
According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) PSAJK in a statement appeals to the J&K government led by Omar Abdullah and Education Minister Sakeena Itoo not to extend the summer vacation any further. Instead, the association has proposed that schools should operate from 6:00 AM to 11:00 AM so that students’ learning is not disrupted.
PSAJK President G.N. Var said in a statement, “Our students have already lost almost three months due to the long winter vacation. If we extend the summer break again, it will be impossible to complete the syllabus before exams, which are scheduled in October.”
He emphasized that this academic session is already under pressure and any more loss of teaching days will affect syllabus, exam preparation and students' overall academic performance.
“Many students are also preparing for competitive exams. Every teaching day matters now. We must act responsibly and give our children more learning time, not less,” said Var .
PSAJK President further said that "starting schools early in the morning is a practical and safer alternative. It allows children to study in the cooler hours of the day, avoiding exposure to intense afternoon heat".
In the meantime, the Kashmir Trade Alliance (KTA) has urged the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, to immediately extend the ongoing summer vacation in schools in view of the intense and unprecedented heat wave sweeping across the Valley.
In a statement, KTA President Aijaz Shahdhar said the temperature in Srinagar crossed 37 degrees Celsius on Friday — a level not witnessed since 1953. He said such extreme weather poses a serious health risk to school-going children, especially in the absence of proper infrastructure like cooling systems and ventilation in most schools.
Shahdhar stressed that continuing physical classes under the current conditions would be unsafe and counterproductive. He urged the Education Department to extend the vacation beyond July 7, the scheduled reopening date, and recommended the initiation of online classes during the extended break to ensure academic continuity.
The KTA also appealed to Education Minister Sakina Itoo to take urgent action and issue necessary directions keeping in view student health and safety. The Alliance said the government must act swiftly and responsibly to prevent further distress among children and their families due to the ongoing heatwave.
Meanwhile, the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has urged the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah, and Education Minister Sakina Itoo to extend the ongoing summer vacation in schools by at least two more weeks, in view of the severe and unprecedented heatwave affecting the Kashmir Valley.
Raising concern over the extreme weather conditions, KCCI said that the safety and health of students must be the topmost priority. The Chamber pointed out that the majority of educational institutions in the region are not adequately equipped to deal with such high temperatures.
“Many schools, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas, lack proper ventilation, cooling mechanisms, or heat-mitigation infrastructure, making it extremely difficult for students and staff to function safely,” KCCI said.
It also said that the current summer vacation, scheduled to end on July 7, should be extended further to allow children to remain indoors during this unusually hot period. KCCI believes that reopening schools under the prevailing weather conditions would expose children to unnecessary health risks—(KNO)