Banihal, Oct 11: The recent change in school timings announced by the Directorate of School Education Jammu (DSEJ) for winter zone schools has triggered anger and concern among teachers, students, and parents across the mountainous districts of the Chenab Valley.
As per the new schedule, schools in winter zone areas of Jammu province — including the Chenab Valley and Pir Panjal region — will now function from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Many parents told Greater Kashmir that the revised timing is impractical, especially amid the ongoing cold weather, shorter daylight hours, and lack of early morning transport facilities.
Parents from several hilly areas of Ramban district said that fresh snowfall on the higher reaches has made mornings extremely cold, making it difficult for children — especially those from remote villages — to reach schools on time.
“The government should have considered the ground realities. Children have to leave home very early and return in the evening, which also exposes them to the threat of wild animals in forested and isolated areas,” said a parent Bilal Ahmad.
Teachers have also raised similar concerns, pointing out that many students and staff travel long distances to reach schools located in far-flung villages.
“Several teachers commute daily from Banihal, Ramsoo, Khari, Ramban, and even Kashmir to different education zones of Ramban district. With limited transport availability early in the morning, reaching schools on time is almost impossible,” said a representative of a teachers’ association on the condition of anonymity.
They criticized the Directorate for what they described as “detached decision-making from air-conditioned offices in Jammu.”
“Officials sitting in Jammu cannot understand the realities of our cold and hilly areas like Khari, Pogal Paristan, Ramsoo, Ramban , Padder, Marwah, Warwan, Gandoh, Bhalessa , Kashtigrah , and Deesa Doda . Their policies often make life harder for both students and teachers,” they added, demanding the creation of a separate Directorate of School Education for Jammu’s winter zone to ensure more practical, winter zone specific policy decisions.
Parents have urged the authorities to revise the school timings to 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., while reducing the lunch break from one hour to 30 minutes.
“It’s ironic that in August and September, when the weather was hot, school hours were from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., but now in colder October, the timing has been advanced to 9:30 a.m.,” said another parent, calling it “a decision that goes against both logic and the welfare of children.”
They have appealed to Education Minister Sakina Itoo and the Director of School Education Jammu to review the order immediately, keeping in view the harsh climatic conditions and the difficulties faced by teachers and students alike.
