J&K: Educational institutions to re-open from Monday

The government directed that the students, who are reading in classes 9th to 12th, shall commence their studies from Monday.

However, due to inclement weather, the Government has extended the winter vacations upto Mar 14 for the student's upto 8th standard
in all the Government educational institutions and recognized private schools falling in Kashmir Division, and areas under winter zone in
Jammu province.

In this regard, the Directors of School Education, Kashmir and Jammu have been directed to ensure that the staff of all the Government
schools, including Primary and Middle, report for duty from Mar 9 and oversee the arrangements for smooth functioning of the classes in
their respective institutions.

Meanwhile, in view of prolonged disruption of schooling in the Kashmir Division and winter zone of Jammu division, Government has also
ordered to waive off final exams of the 2nd term for the students from class 1st to class 9th  as also class 11th in all the Government
schools and recognized private schools of Kashmir Division and Winter zone of Jammu division.

The students of these classes shall be elevated to the next level with immediate effect.

The decision has been taken in view of the large number of educational institutions being closed down due to unprecedented floods and heavy rain fall in September, 2014, particularly in the Kashmir Division and winter zone of Jammu Division.

Most of the schools in these areas could not be made functional for a long time.

Thereafter, due to damage suffered by the school buildings, and due to unsafe and unhygienic conditions and water logging, the exams in
October/November, 2014 had to be postponed by the Government besides extended the winter vacations from time to time.

As such the Government has decided that the conduct of examination on re-opening the schools is not practically possible which would cause even further delay in the new session.

(Reporting by Saleem Iqbal Qadri)