Srinagar: With the government claiming “improvement in situation” in restive Kashmir, which is witnessing “worst-ever humanitarian crises”, the authorities have prioritized reopening of schools expecting “good news” by the first week of October.
The reopening of schools could be second “big development” after the recent announcement of exam date sheets for class 10th and 12th board exams, when students have yet not completed even half of their syllabus.
Sources said in the wake of police input that situation has improved after 80 odd days of unrest, which claimed at least 90 lives and left over 12,000 wounded, the government at a recent meeting chaired by Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, decided to prioritize reopening of schools over other plans like the one to reopen marketplaces.
Sources said apart from Education Minister, Naeem Akhter, some other PDP leaders and members from the civil society have been roped in for “backchannel talks” with some leading private schools and office bearers of the private school associations.
Sources said at least two leading schools here have shown willingness to resume schooling from October 3, provided the government meets their “long pending demands.”
Some of the office bearers of the private school associations in league with the Education Minister have started groundwork for reopening of schools in uptown Srinagar.
Sources said the government plans to focus on Srinagar for restoration of normalcy so that the development has a “domino effect elsewhere in the Valley.”
“Frankly speaking unlike previous attempt when we planned to reopen schools in areas like Bandipora first, this time our focus is Srinagar where signs of normalcy are already visible in the civil lines,” said an official in the Directorate of School Education Kashmir, asking not to be named.
About the reopening of government schools, sources said Education Minister has already started district-wise visits to hold meeting with the concerned officials.
Sources said the Chief Education Officer(s) of various districts, starting from south Kashmir areas like Anantnag and Pulwama, have been directed to ensure that school teachers resume duties or that action would be taken against the CEO.
Insiders said a senior official in the divisional administration has warned the CEOs to ensure staff attendance at schools or be prepared to face the axe. “Coming week will be utilized to resume staff attendance whereas subsequently the schools will be reopened,” said a source in know of the matter.
The proposal to reopen schools comes at a time when government has blown the exam buggle. On September 23, the J&K Board of School Education issued a formal date-sheet for conduct of class 10th and 12th annual examinations in Kashmir division, excluding district Kargil, amid ongoing uprising that entered its 78th day Saturday.
The date-sheet has been issued despite the fact that students haven’t completed even half their syllabi in the wake of continued curfews and shutdowns since July 8 when militant commander Burhan Muzaffar Wani and his two associates were killed.
The BOSE move is largely seen as an attempt by the government to break up the cycle of protests and clashes.
As per a notification issued by the BOSE, the annual examination for Class 10th will begin on 15th November and conclude on 28th November while for Class 12th, it will begin on 14th November and conclude on 3rd December.
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