Zahoor Ahmad Lone
It has remained tradition in Kashmir Valley that on the onset of winter all the educational institutions up to higher education level get closed for winter vacations. The purpose behind vacations is that students can save themselves from the chilly cold in harsh winter. But see the other aspect of the winter vacations: students start to attend different coaching/tuition centres .This is indeed a necessity because students cannot remain far away from education for 2-3 months in this age of competition.
In order to remain in touch with education during winter vacations all the students attend different coaching /tuition centres. Mostly Students have to attend these coaching/tuition centers early in the morning when there is fog, unbearable chill and snow here and there .We can see these students on the roads by 8 or 9 am daily with their bags. Most of the students of 9th ,10th 1th ,12th and other higher classes travel from villages to towns to attend different coaching /tuition centres due to lack of coaching centers in their respective villages. Even small kids reading in pre primary classes have to attend their tutors in the chilly winter.
During our times it was necessary to close the schools during the winter because there were no such facilities available which are available currently. Those times students had to walk a long distance to attend their schools. Also there was a lack of proper transport facilities. But after the implementation of SSA scheme there are two -three primary schools and at least one middle school in every village .There is now a Hr Sec School within 3-4 kilometers from the residence of students.
Now students have easy access to their respective schools. Also 95% villages have been connected through roads. Moreover, the school education department took a number of initiatives to provide all the basic facilities in schools. If a student attends a private coaching center at 8am or 9am, why can he or she not attend the school at 11 am? Present age is the age of competition and everybody is in race. Here the motive behind the winter vacations has no meaning. Some European countries get more snow than Kashmir Valley but their education system does not get affected and functions smoothly because of the facilities available with them. These countries have made the education sector first priority and the result is quite clear. In Kashmir Valley not only schools but colleges and universities are closed for winter vacations which I think is not justice with education system .
It was better for the government to keep the schools open during the winter .Few years back school education department took the step of establishing winter camps and winter tutorials in each education zone. At Least twenty winter camps/ winter tutorials were established in each zone. In these winter camps/ winter tutorials students from class 3rd to 12thwere given education by the teachers of the education department. Even students of private institutions were allowed to take admission in these centers. This move of the government was highly appreciated both by the Parents and civil society. In each district one center was established for the coaching of NEET, JEE and other competitive examinations. In these centers highly qualified and experienced staff of the Education department were training students for different competitive examinations.
There has been an excellent response both from parents and students in these centers. The students belonging to poor families were greatly benefitted by such student friendly steps taken by the school education department. .This winter school education department established winter tutorials/centers as per previous practice. If these centers functioned in a smooth way why cannot the education department go one step a head by keeping all the schools open during winters by providing funds for heating arrangement. This can be done by charging small amount of fee as heating charges from students as per previous practice.
On trial basis government can keep middle ,high and higher Secondary schools open during winter .It will have a number of benefits .Firstly students would not have to be in search of private coaching/tuition centers. Secondly students would have education at their door steps during winters. They would not have to travel long distances to attend private coaching centers early in the morning in chilly winters. Thirdly, poor parents would not have to pay hefty amounts to private coaching centers which they can avail in their locality by paying a meager amount as heating charges. Fourthly the syllabus would be completed in time which remains mostly incompleted for higher classes .Fifthly the government teachers will not indulge themselves in private coaching centers. As far as my estimate is concerned 15000/= to 20000/= are sufficient for a middle and primary school as heating charges during the whole winter. If the government goes ahead it will break the old tradition of closing the schools in winters like the Darbar move tradition was broken. It will bring a drastic change in the ailing education sector .It will help a lot in rejuvenating the education sector.
Zahoor Ahmad Lone is a teacher from Bandipora and member of JKGLTF .He can be mailed on zahoorlone1979@gmail.com
