Srinagar 04Sep: Parents across the Kashmir Valley have demanded immediate revocation of order in which it was mentioned that the educational institutes will remain closed till further orders.Parents alleged that the conspiracy has been hatched against the education system of Kashmir valley and instead of taking other preventive measures, Government has without any reason and justification closed educational institutes, although all the educational institutes and students were following proper SOPs and other COVID-19 guidelines.Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday said that the UT administration is planning to reopen colleges and universities this month for physical classes after vaccinating the students above 18 years of age.Pertinently, in a recent order the government had said that while all the schools, colleges and coaching centers will continue to remain closed for on-site and in-person teaching, the educational institutions are permitted to seek attendance of vaccinated staff for administrative purposes.Parents said there are no restrictions on restaurants, shopping malls, gatherings and other public places, why only a classroom is treated as the main driver of COVID-19 transmission.Government has to kill Coronavirus by taking preventive measures and not kill education of Kashmir valley which has been halted since 2019, they added.We are on the list that nobody wants to be on, the list of countries that have forgotten education, I think there are seven countries in the world without opening schools and without plans to return, said one of the parents.The fact is that UNESCO has estimated that keeping students away from schools every month results in a learning loss of two months. That means the closure of schools for around 17 months during COVID-19 period took the school children back by 34 months.They added that instead of closing education institutes, Government should take strict preventive measures to stop such kinds of public gatherings.In view of the impact of Covid 19 pandemic on education, the Jammu and Kashmir students Movement (J&KSM), an independent student body, has demanded the reopening of schools in Kashmir valley. President J&KSM, Gazi Muzamil has urged the UT government to realise its constitutional responsibility towards the children of the valley. He stressed the need for a better public education system that helps the valley emerge from this moment of crisis.Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Lecturers forum under the chairmanship of its UT President Syed Fayaz called on worthy Director School Education Kashmir Dr. Tasaduk Hussian Mir and briefed worthy Director School Education about the necessary initiatives required to be taken up to bridge the learning loss caused due to long closure of schools.As per routine the schools reopened in March 2020 but after having physical class work of students for around three weeks, the educational institutions were closed across India due to nationwide lockdown which was imposed in view of the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. Since then the students are literally away from their schools and books as well.While the other states outside J&K are opening the educational institutions for normal schooling, the J&K government seems to be in no interest in opening.Parents also alleged that a large number of government teachers have started their side business. “Instead of attending duties, they want to close schools, besides that they are running Coaching Centers where they get paid handsome amounts of money as tuition fee. (CNS)
