Schools unlikely to open before winter vacations

Ehsan Fazili

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 23

Lower primary students in Srinagar went to attend classes on November 18 after three-and-a-half months of spontaneous shutdown coupled with restrictions and communication blockade since abrogation of Article 370.

The schools opened after a gap of 105 days with return of normalcy in the Valley. However, schools were shut within two days of opening after rumours of attack on shopkeepers who had opened their shops.

Parents of Mishal and Sehrish, who study in Class V and I, thought that things would be normal like before, but their hopes were dashed to the ground within two days.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah had told the Rajya Sabha on November 18 “All is normal…..no curfew anywhere” in Kashmir. He also referred to the restoration of landlines and internet blockade.

“There has been zero attendance in educational institutions” since August 5, said sources, while the administration “declared open” educational institutions in Kashmir in three phases during September.

Sources said the schools were closed from August 5 on the basis of news reports of restrictions, without any orders of the government. However, officials in the Education Department were asked to get daily attendance of the students.

At present, there is little hope that schools would open before winter vacations, which would begun from next month. Even result of Class X and XII students would be declared during winter break.

The trade and tourism sector has been adversely affected after the Union Government issued a travel advisory on August 2. Though the government withdrew travel advisory for tourists visiting Kashmir on October 10, tourism industry has taken a big hit due absence of Internet.

Markets continue to remain closed and public transport off the roads after repeated rumours of attacks, while pre-paid mobile and Internet services have not been restored in the Valley.