Schools, colleges open after extended vacations

Srinagar, Mar 11: The schools and colleges opened on Monday after a three-month long winter break.
Monday morning, children accompanied by their parents were seen waiting at the bus stops for their school buses.
In the commercial hub of Lal Chowk, children dressed in uniforms were seen making their way towards their educational institutions.
Saima Rashid, a B.Sc. second year student at Women’s college, Moulana Azad Road, said that she was happy to join her college again.
“Usually the winter vacation used to last for two months, this year it lasted for almost three months. We hope that there would be no further interruption,” she said.
Irfan Ahmad, a student of Sri Pratap Higher Secondary School said he and his classmates were eager to get to school after staying home for almost three months.
“The government was saying that winter break was extended because of the inclement weather. We all know that weather was good. God better knows, what the actual reason behind prolonged winter break was? ”he said.
Meanwhile, parents too were happy on the opening of educational institutions.
They said that they were worried for their wards due to the extension of vacations.
“Uncertainty had been prevailing over the opening of educational institutions. The children were worried so were the parents,” said a parent, Zakir Ahmad, whose daughter studies in Presentation Convent Higher Secondary School.
“You never know when the situation would take an ugly turn. The children should get enough time to complete the syllabus. The future of our children is important for us ,” he said.
The schools upto class 8th and 12th were closed for winter vacation from December 6 and 17 respectively.
However, the colleges closed for winter break from December 23 last year.
Although the colleges and schools were scheduled to reopen on February 11 and March 2 respectively, the divisional administration extended the winter vacation following the prediction of rains and snowfall.