Few schools reopen, students stay away

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 3

On Tuesday, when Aatiya Ayoub’s mother read a news item in a local daily about the opening of schools after two months, she had already decided not to send her daughter to the school owing to the continuous tense situation in Kashmir which marked 60 days on Thursday.

Aatiya is a Class X student. She has submitted the form for her annual exams but doesn’t know whether the exams will be held. She is yet to complete the syllabus at the school where her last class was held before August 3.

“Our education seems to be over. There is still silence and shutdown, it is not safe for us to go to school in such a situation,” she told The Tribune at her home in Srinagar where she is preparing the assignments provided to her by the school. “I am not able to concentrate, it is a very difficult situation for all students,” she said.

The Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan announced the opening of schools up to Class XII from Thursday but while a few schools had opened, the students continued to remain away from classes disobeying the government’s order. It is for the second time since August 19 that the government announced opening of schools but the students stayed away.

The government has also announced opening of institutes of higher education from October 9 but it seems unlikely that students will attend the classes as the communication and internet clampdown continues in Kashmir.

Many parents continue to raise safety issues of students and have restrained them from sending them to schools.

“We will not send our children to schools. There is no public transport and everything is shut. How can students, as young as 4, 5 and 6 years of age go to schools? What will they do if a stone hits them or something happens? Who will inform us when the phones are not working?” asked Rosy Jan, a mother.