Srinagar: The Director of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) Saturday said that any decision on winter vacations will be taken after the culmination of annual exams of classes 1st to 9th.
Speaking to the media here, the Director of School Education Kashmir Tassaduq Hussain Mir said that winter break in valley schools is contingent upon the weather conditions and that routine class work in schools will continue as long as weather permits. Any decision on winter vacations will be taken once annual examinations of classes 1st to 9th are over, he said.
“As of now, our first priority is to conduct annual exams of classes 1st to 9th in a smooth and free manner amid the transition of academic session from March to November. It is our first target. We have already issued a uniform date sheet and from Monday the annual exams are being held,” the Director said.
“In case the weather deteriorates, the government will take a call and declare winter vacation in schools across Kashmir. Since the government has notified a uniform date sheet, let me make it clear that no decision in this direction will be made until the annual examinations are over, results are declared and notification for new classes are issued,” the Director said.
“We will take a decision on winter vacations after the culmination of exams. Till then there will be no winter vacations,” he stressed.
Asked about complaints that few private schools are charging admission fees, the Director said we have clear-cut directions issued to educational institutions that no such fee should be taken. “We have a fee fixation committee which has passed directions that no admission fee will be charged by any private school. We will definitely take cognizance if complaints are reported to us. Government is taking this issue very seriously, and if it is proved the said school will be derecognized,” he added.
When asked that parents be forced to buy textbooks and other study material from within the schools only, the Director of Education said only board-prescribed textbooks have been ordered by the government to be recommended in all government and private schools.
“It’s a standing order which says that all government and private schools would only recommend board of school education books. A meeting has also been convened in this direction and the Education Minister said the books will be distributed among the students as soon as exams are over,” the Director of Education added.
