On Burhan Wani’s Anniversary, educational institutions across Valley remain deserted | KNO

Kashmir News Observer (KNO)

Srinagar, July 08 (KNO) : The educational institutions across Valley wore a deserted a look Monday which was observed as third death anniversary of slain Hizbul Mujahidin commander, Burhan Wani. Burhan Wani was killed on July 08 of 2016 in an encounter by government forces in Kokernag area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district. On Monday, Valley observed shutdown to commiserate the 3rd anniversary of slain commander and the educational institutions including schools and colleges in almost all the areas remained closed. In few schools, which were open on Monday witnessed very thin attendance of students and teachers as well. Besides government run educational institutions, all the private schools across Kashmir remained closed on Monday. “There was no official holiday announced for Monday but given the shutdown call and the restriction imposed by the administration, the schools remained closed across Kashmir,” an official at directorate of school education Kashmir (DSEK) told KNO. The official told KNO that the department also took a lenient view of the issue given the gravity of situation. “Initiating any action against teachers or students for remaining absent from schools would invite criticism from public so the department tackled the situation accordingly,” the official told KNO. Pertinently the school education department has framed an academic calendar for schools wherein schools should get at least 180 working days. “But the unofficial closure of schools tell upon the students as the teachers fail to complete the syllabus on time,” the official told KNO. From past three years, the Valley has been witnessing unofficial closure of schools in wake of any law and order situation which has thrown up a major challenge for the department. “The unauthorised closure of schools has become a major problem for us and we are unable to find an alternative to it,” the official told KNO. On Monday no staff vehicle, privately hired by the teachers was seen plying on roads in wake of the restrictions and shutdown called by JRL across Kashmir.  Director School Education Kashmir (DSEK) Muhammad Younis Malik said there was no official announcement of holiday for closure of schools in Valley. “Schools were not closed at all places but may be teachers would have faced problems in reaching to their schools as transport was not plying on roads,” he told KNO. He however didn’t respond to other queries. (KNO)