By: Aubaid Ahmad Akhoon
In recent years, our educational system has seen multiple reform efforts, but one of the most talked-about is the restoration of the October–November academic session by the current government under the leadership of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. This session structure had existed for years before being altered by the previous LG-led administration, in order to implement “Uniform Academic Policy” which shifted it to March. Now, with the return of an elected government, the earlier session has been promptly reinstated. While the move is intended to provide relief from harsh winters and better align with the national academic framework, its abrupt implementation has surfaced several challenges that demand immediate and thoughtful intervention.
This shift, although welcome in spirit, has brought both convenience and complication. The current academic year will now span barely 6 to 7 months. In such a short duration, completing the entire syllabus has become an overwhelming task for students and teachers alike especially in demanding streams like medical/JEE where even 10 to 11 months often fall short. Coaching centres, already packed with back-to-back batches, are struggling to compress months of content into mere weeks.
With school hours now running from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and coaching centres starting their sessions post 3:00 PM until 7:00 PM, the day has become incredibly hectic for students. Coaching centres can’t function during school hours, and thus, the learning time outside formal schooling is significantly restricted. Students now shuttle between two learning spaces, barely getting time to rest or reflect, let alone revise. With classes starting late in the afternoon and stretching into the evening, one wonders how meaningful instruction can truly be delivered in such a crammed schedule.
The Way Forward for Students
To cope with this transition, students must now think smart and act smarter. It’s no longer sufficient to rely solely on offline classes. A hybrid approach leveraging both online and offline resources can empower students to not just keep up with the syllabus but also secure adequate time for revision. Access to recorded lectures, digital notes, mock tests, and doubt-clearing sessions can greatly ease the pressure on young minds.
A Call for Government Schools to Modernise
The time has also come to revamp government schools. It’s unfortunate that despite having qualified staff, thousands of students prefer private schools. The reason is simple: outdated infrastructure, passive teaching methods, and lack of accountability.
If we truly want government institutions to thrive, they must embrace modern education systems. From smart classrooms and interactive labs to extracurricular development and life skills training, every element of the schooling experience needs a 360-degree upgrade. In line with competitive demands, subjective assessments must be supplemented with OMR-based testing to prepare students for national-level exams.
Responsibility of the Directorate of Education
The Directorate of Education must not wait for a crisis to take action. Teachers need to be trained and motivated to conduct extra classes both online and offline. Incentivising their involvement and recognising their contribution can breathe new life into the teaching community. If we expect miracles from teachers, we must empower them with tools, training, and trust.
The Bigger Picture: Beyond Session Changes
But let’s not stop at calendar reforms. Our education system today is a patient showing signs of chronic illness. We’re churning out batches of degree holders replete with theoretical information but lacking in practical life skills. Graduates roam the streets with files and resumes, while the job market remains indifferent to their qualifications.
We must ask ourselves: What good is a degree that can’t help a youth stand on their own feet? What use is education that fails to instil dignity through self-reliance?
It’s concerning that many degree-holding graduates remain unemployed or underemployed, while those with practical skills often thrive economically. This isn’t to undermine any profession, but rather to highlight a fundamental flaw in our education system. We continue to focus heavily on theoretical knowledge while ignoring the real-world skills that today’s job market demands. It’s time our curriculum reflects the needs of the 21st century by integrating vocational training, digital literacy, entrepreneurship, communication skills, and financial awareness—so students are not just educated, but truly empowered to build their futures.
Time to Look Beyond Books
We are far behind the pace of the modern world. While the globe is experimenting with AI, robotics, green technologies, and futuristic careers, we are still caught up in rote learning. There’s a dire need to introduce students to diverse fields—sports, media, cinema, IT, agriculture, environmental sciences, and business innovation.
If a child is gifted in sports, let that talent be nurtured alongside academics. If someone dreams of being an artist or an app developer, let them find mentors and platforms from school itself. Education must not produce passive job seekers but proactive job creators.
The Crisis of Morality
More than ever, education must go beyond textbooks and technology it must nurture character. We don’t just need professionals; we need principled individuals. A nation’s strength lies not only in its infrastructure, but in the integrity of its citizens. If our students emerge academically brilliant but morally disconnected, we risk building a future without a foundation.
Educational institutions should be more than examination factories they should be spaces where integrity is instilled, empathy is encouraged, and social responsibility is shaped. Values like honesty, respect, cultural pride, and compassion must not be sidelined they must be central to the curriculum that shapes our next generation.
A Time to Awaken
The world has moved light-years ahead, but we still walk the path with a lantern. It is time for a complete overhaul:
Revise and update curricula with future-ready content.Train teachers continuously and empower them with modern tools. Introduce students to diverse skill sets beyond academics.
Promote digital learning alongside physical classrooms. Restore values and ethics as a central part of education. Upgrade libraries, labs, and infrastructure across institutions. Create balance in daily schedules to avoid student burnout. Offer flexible, well-structured timelines to allow space for revision and mental health.
And finally, let the school environment be one of openness—not a prison of pressure. Let children breathe, explore, and express. Let them make mistakes and learn. Because true education is not about suppressing voices but nurturing potential.
Bottom line: Become More Aware
Let us become more aware of what’s truly worth our time and energy. Reform is not a luxury—it is an urgent need. Let’s not wait for another batch of students to suffer under an outdated system. Change begins with awareness, and awareness begins with you.
Shifting the session without shifting the system is like changing the clock without chasing the time. The real reform must begin beyond the timetable.
The writer is a columnist, Motivational Speaker, and Associate Editor of the weekly educational publication Education Quill.
