Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 5: With people calling for an extension, the Private Schools’ Association of Jammu and Kashmir (PSAJK) today urged the Government not to extend the summer break any further despite the ongoing heatwave across Kashmir.
Instead, PSAJK proposed that schools operate from 6:00 AM to 11:00 AM to ensure students’ learning remains uninterrupted.
PSAJK President G.N. Var said students have already lost nearly three months due to the extended winter vacation, and any further break would severely impact their studies.
“If we extend the summer break again, it will be impossible to complete the syllabus before the exams scheduled in October,” he said.
Var emphasized that the academic calendar is already under pressure and that losing more teaching days would affect syllabus completion, 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,” he said.
PSAJK further stated that starting schools early in the morning is a practical and safer alternative, allowing students to study during the cooler hours of the day and avoid exposure to the intense afternoon heat.
“Instead of closing schools, let us change the timing. Many hot-weather regions in India and abroad already follow early morning classes during summer months. It works well and can easily be implemented in Jammu and Kashmir too,” the statement read.
The association also pointed out that several rural and urban schools have already lost valuable days due to adverse weather, power outages, and infrastructure challenges.
Var assured that PSAJK, along with all private schools in Jammu and Kashmir, is fully prepared to support the Government if early morning school timings are introduced.
Meanwhile, several doctors today called for an extension of the summer vacation.
“Amid the severe heatwave, the Government should extend summer vacations. Rain won’t bring relief, but rather more humidity and additional trouble for children,” said Dr. Suhail Naik, a renowned paediatrician.
Director of School Education Kashmir (DSEK), Dr. G.N. Itoo, said a decision on extending the summer break will be taken in a day or two, keeping in view the safety of children.
“No decision has been taken yet. The situation is being assessed. The Minister for Education has also made a statement in this regard,” he added.
The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) urged the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and Education Minister to extend the ongoing summer vacation in schools by at least two more weeks.
Raising concern over the extreme weather conditions, KCCI said that the safety and health of students must be the topmost priority.
“Majority of educational institutions in the region are not adequately equipped to deal with such high temperatures.”
The current summer vacation, KCCI stated, scheduled to end on July 7, should be extended further to allow children to remain indoors during this unusually hot period.
To minimise academic loss during the extended break, the KCCI has recommended that the government initiate online classes and ensure that students remain engaged through digital learning platforms.
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