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Eating humble pie, JK admin reviews summer vacation order

‘No 5-day class, weekly teacher-student interaction instead’

WATSUPPTODAY.COM NEWS DESK | JAMMU

Hours after JK UT administration issued a ‘confusing’ order pertaining to the vacations in the schools of summer zone, wherein it was directed to ensure daily class work during the holidays, the administration under severe criticism from all the stake holders reviewed the order. Following which it came out with a fresh order announcing the holidays and changing the condition to having a weekly interaction of the teachers with the students instead of 5-day-week classes.
Earlier, the J&K UT administration had ordered summer vacation in Jammu schools in Summer Zone from June 15 to July 15. However, the order also read that it has to be ensured that online classes are conducted at least 5 days a week.
The students had expressed resentment over the order terming it as a confusing order and expressed that if classes were to continue, there was no need to order the vacations. “What is the fun of announcing the vacations when the online classes would be held for five days in a week during the period? Earlier we were conducting classes for 6 days in a week. There is hardly any difference in the routine between the two scenarios - when vacations were not and when vacations would be,” said a student, on the condition of anonymity.
Another student complained that they were already burdened with a huge amount of lessons and assignments being provided online. The vacations were expected to provide some relief and give them time to do some self-study, but holidays like this will serve no purpose.
Meanwhile, a parent stated that it was better not to announce the vacation if the classwork was to be continued. “They call it a vacation but order the classwork to remain on – what a mockery,” he quipped.
Appealing the Lt Gov of JK UT to reconsider the order, the teaching fraternity too has not taken the order in good. All J&K PlusTwo Lecturers Forum has demanded immediate review of the summer vacation order and said that students were already stressed due to online classes and need a break for their mental health and well-being. Teachers also need to relax from hectic schedule, the forum said.
The All Teachers Association J&K president Mrignayani Slathia had also demanded that LG administration should review the summer vacation order and give the students as well as teachers a break from the hectic schedule.