JAMMU, Sep 29: Provincial President of the J&K Lecturers’ Forum, Jammu Division, Pardeep Koul, has welcomed the decision of the Directorate of School Education Jammu to revise school timings in the Summer Zone areas of Jammu Division from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM in view of the prevailing drop in temperature.
Koul said the decision was timely and in line with the practice followed in previous years. He said the revised schedule would provide relief to students as well as teaching and non-teaching staff during the colder weather.
However, the J&K Lecturers’ Forum has urged the Director School Education Jammu to extend similar relief to schools in the Winter Zone areas of Jammu Division, where institutions continue to function under the existing timings despite the prevailing cold conditions.
The Forum has requested that, keeping in view the safety, health and convenience of students and staff, school timings in Winter Zone areas may also be revised. It has proposed timings of 10:30 AM to 4:00 PM for municipal areas and 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM for areas outside municipal limits.
Koul said the demand was primarily based on concerns related to the safety and convenience of students and staff during the early morning hours. He pointed out that low temperatures, along with reduced visibility and difficult road conditions in certain areas, can create challenges for those travelling to schools during the morning.
He said a slightly delayed start would allow students and staff to reach educational institutions after the colder morning hours while ensuring that adequate instructional time is maintained.
The Provincial President appealed to the Director School Education Jammu to consider the request sympathetically and issue necessary orders for Winter Zone areas as well.
The Forum maintained that appropriate measures for adjusting school timings would help provide protection from the prevailing cold conditions and ensure uniform consideration of the safety and convenience of students and teaching and non-teaching staff across Jammu Division.