Pulwama, May 21: In light of the ongoing heat wave sweeping across the Kashmir Valley, the Chief Education Officers of Shopian and Pulwama have directed all government and private educational institutions within their jurisdictions to implement precautionary measures to ensure the safety and well-being of students.
The directive underlines the importance of safeguarding school-going children from the rising temperatures and urges strict adherence to the advisories issued by concerned authorities.
Speaking to Rising Kashmir, CEO Shopian, Shabir Ahmad, said that morning assemblies must now be conducted in shaded areas within school premises to minimize students’ exposure to direct sunlight.
He further said that all physical activities during assemblies have been suspended, and their duration should be kept brief until the weather improves.
A similar circular from the CEO Pulwama office echoes these instructions, asking all heads of institutions to comply without exception.
“Any instance of negligence in implementing these guidelines will be viewed seriously,” the circular warns.
Officials said that these precautionary steps are crucial in preventing health issues such as dehydration, especially among younger students.
Meanwhile, parents from several areas in South Kashmir have appealed to the School Education Department to ensure potable water in the schools.
Mushtaq Ahmad, a resident of Kakapora area in Pulwama, expressed concern over the lack of potable water in many schools.
He said that though schools in different areas of South Kashmir get water from tap connections or tube wells but at many places the water is not safe for drinking.
He said that his daughter is enrolled at a private school charging a hefty amount as monthly fee but it lacks basic cooling facilities and water purifiers,” he said, adding that at other places water purifiers have been installed but not to suffice the need of 300 or 400 students.
He said schools in Kashmir need to upgrade infrastructure to cope up with the climate change.
Some parents also demanded shifting classes to morning hours till the heat wave subsidies.
“It is our earnest request to the authorities to announce morning classes during this period. The current conditions are not suitable for children to concentrate or remain active throughout the day,” Manzoor Ahmad, another parent, said.
