Winter vacations for pre-primary classes from Tuesday

Srinagar, Nov 24: The Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to announce early winter vacations for kindergarten classes, with Minister for Education Sakina Itoo confirming that Tuesday, November 25, will be the last working day for students enrolled in pre-primary sections.
Speaking to Greater Kashmir, the education minister said she had discussed the matter with the Director School Education Kashmir. “Tomorrow (Tuesday) will be the last working day for students of kindergarten classes,” Sakina Itoo said.
The decision comes in the wake of persistent appeals from parents for an early announcement of winter vacations for kindergarten classes, citing the sharp dip in temperatures across Kashmir. Their demand was amplified just days after the government announced that winter vacations for classes up to the 8th standard would begin from the first week of December.
“Temperature is already below normal. The time of mulling over a decision is over; they need to act now for the primary kids’ sake. Think about kids with asthma and cold allergy. Going out right now is literally suicide for them,” said Asma, a parent from Srinagar.
Parents argued that the prevailing weather made it unsafe for small children to continue attending school. They pointed out that children were shifting between centrally heated classrooms and the cold outdoors during morning and afternoon assemblies, which they said posed serious health risks.
“Entering a classroom which is centrally heated and then going out in the ground for morning and afternoon assemblies is dangerous for the small kids,” the parents said.
They added that although afternoon sunlight may appear appealing, it does little to offset the cold and is not beneficial for the general health of young children. They warned that continuing classes under such weather conditions could prove damaging and even fatal for small school-going children.
Minister for Education Sakina Itoo also acknowledged the worsening weather conditions. The weather is very cold in Kashmir. Keeping in view the cold weather conditions, we have decided to close kindergarten classes early,” she told Greater Kashmir.
The formal government order regarding the early winter vacation for pre-primary classes is expected to be issued soon.