SRINAGAR — Schools in Kashmir have reopened after nearly three years of home-learning forced by back-to-back lockdowns. Initially closed after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, the schools were shut again after the Coronavirus was declared as a pandemic in March 2020.
The government schools resumed offline classwork from primary to higher secondary level while in private schools the classwork was resumed from middle to higher secondary level classes. The routine schooling for kindergarten and primary classes in private schools will resume a week later.
As the schools resumed physical class work of students, the government has advised the schools to ensure a smooth transition of students from home-based lockdown to formal schooling besides providing them support on school reopening.
Students were seen arranging their school bags and uniforms and making their black shoes shine. The joy of meeting old friends and teachers was easily seen on their faces.
"It's really a joy for me. I have attended school when I was in 7th standard and now am in Class 9th. I am excited to meet my friends and teachers. It's altogether a different experience to study in a school classroom rather than in my home, attending an online class," said Maliha, a student.
Her friend Imamah said, "I have so much to share with friends. I missed them a lot. I hope schools will now remain open throughout the year.”
She added that physical attendance in the school is very important and it will definitely change the mental ability and agility of the students at the same time. "No doubt we have gone through stress, sitting at home for a long period now but now we need to come out of our homes."
Meanwhile, the school heads have been asked to ensure the emotional well-being of students and teachers as well. The parents and the stakeholders have also called for the adoption of a play-way method of teaching in schools for the children.
The schools in government, as well as the private sector, have made all the preparations for reopening the schools by ensuring cleanliness and sanitisation of the school premises.
The teachers in government schools, as per the directions of the concerned Chief Education Officers (CEOs), attended their schools from February 24 to make preparations for the reopening of the schools. The private schools have also made all the preparations for the reopening of the schools across the Valley.
The Director School Education in Kashmir (DSEK) has conveyed to the staff to ensure that children are made to celebrate their return to schools by decorating the premises for them with balloons and offering them sweets.
“Create an air of festivity in our schools. Let us break the ice and pass on a message that this week it will be more play, more fun. We should make small groups of children so that they share the experiences of long pauses, the woes, the happiness, the stress while keeping Covid Appropriate Behaviour (CAB) in mind,” the DSEK said in his message.
The schools have been asked to organise one-to-one counselling with students, each child getting around 10 minutes. “Talk to them, listen to their difficulties and reassure them,” the message reads.
The Private Schools Association of Jammu and Kashmir (PSAJK) has also stated that the first week of reopening of schools will be celebrated as a week of happiness and sharing of experiences to enable students to start the session in a stress-free environment.
“There should be no assignments or tests during the first two weeks, no mandatory uniform. The students should get a stress-free atmosphere,” said President PSAJK G N Var.
“We have a whole year for education and let us celebrate the first week of reopening of schools as a big festival,” he said.
This post first appeared on The Kashmir Pulse
Post a Comment
Refrain from posting comments that are obscene, defamatory or inflammatory, and do not indulge in personal attacks, name calling or inciting hatred against any community. Let's work together to keep the conversation civil.