Kashmir: Despite severe cold, thousands of students today attended their classes in the Kashmir Valley, where the educational institutions reopened after winter vacations. However, a number of private institutions, including missionary schools, have announced to reopen from March 3 in view of holiday tomorrow on account of Maha Shivratri.
Holding school bags and water bottles in their hands, students from class nursery to 10th were seen marching towards their respective schools despite severe cold following fresh snowfall on upper reaches and rains in plains.
Parents alleged that school management, particularly private institutions, has failed to make any heating arrangment despite charging high fees from the students. Similar scenes were also witnessed in government institutions where there was also no heating arrangement.
The educational institutions from class 8th to 12th were closed from January 1 following heavy snowfall in the Valley. Earlier, the government had decided to keep these institutions open during winter months to cover the time lost during about four month summer turmoil in the Valley.
The government had sanctioned additional funds to schools for making heating and other arrangements for the students during winter months. The decision was hailed by the students belonging to lower and middle classes who could not afford to pay fees of private coaching centres.
But the government’s decision to keep the schools open was criticised by the students of private institutions, particularly missionary schools, that took to streets demanding winter vacation.
Finally government succumbed to pressure and announced winter vacation from January 1 till today. However, schools up to middle classes were closed from December 15 last year.
