Amid Scorching Heat, Teachers, Parents Advocate for Change in Kashmir School Timings
Srinagar, May 28: As temperatures continue to rise, parents and teachers in Kashmir are urging authorities to adjust school timings to better protect students from the intense heat.
Concerns have been raised, particularly for kindergarten students, many of whom are reportedly facing health issues due to the scorching weather.
As per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), parents have called on the authorities to implement an earlier start to the school day. They propose shifting the current schedule from 8:30 AM – 2:30 PM to 7:00 AM – 1:30 PM. This change, they argue, would help alleviate some of the discomfort caused by the heat, especially for younger children.
“Three to five-year-old children are extremely sensitive, and in the increasing heat, they are likely to fall ill. With summer holidays starting from June, the government should exempt the kindergarten students from school for the remaining days,” said a concerned parent of a lower kindergarten student.
Teachers have echoed these concerns, highlighting the difficulties of conducting classes in overcrowded classrooms. “Due to space constraints in some schools, over 50 students sit in one class, making it extremely suffocating in the current weather conditions,” several school teachers told KNO.
The Meteorological Department’s weather forecast bulletin indicates that severe heat wave conditions are expected to persist in the coming days, adding urgency to the calls for a change in school timings.
Despite the growing outcry, officials from the Department of Education have yet to comment on the issue.Meanwhile, Parents and teachers alike are hoping for swift action to ensure the well-being of the students during this period of extreme heat—(KNO)
