SRINAGAR: The ongoing uncertainty and fear has triggered apprehensions among parents in Srinagar prompting them to keep their wards away from schools.
The government had directed to open schools in the Valley from October 3 but students did not turn up, defeating the purpose of the announcement.
Kashmir Reader spoke to parents to understand their reservations for sending children to schools.
Almost all parents say they are worried about safety and wellbeing of their children. Besides, communication blockade is another major reason forcing them to keep wards at home.
Dr Najeeb, a father of two, said that he did not send his children to school located in the city because of safety concerns.
“Though the schools where my kids study are in the city, but, they are as vulnerable as any other school. Biscoe School’s administration is so fearful that it kept its back side open instead of its front
entry. This shows how uncertain they are. Parent cannot take risks,” he said.
“Why would I send my kids to schools when I feel they are not protected? Who can guarantee me their protection?” asks Dr Najeeb.
Both the schools where his kids study did not send buses to pick students.
Since August 5, when the government of India stripped Jammu and Kashmir of special status and bifurcated the state into two union territories, schools have been issuing advertisements in
newspapers asking parents to collect assignments for home. Parents say that is better to compensate for lost class work instead of sending wards to schools in absence of communication such as
mobile phones.
“The quantum of risk is more in sending my kid to school. Though the school is located nearby my home, I choose not to send. There was not even any direction from the school to send my kid,” said
another parent Tahir Ahmad. His ward is admitted at a crèche in Karan Nagar.
While schools have not been able to conduct unit tests, the government is mulling to hold the annual examinations in time. For this even schools have begun to internally identify the mechanism so
that students can compensate for lost classwork.
An administrator of a prominent private school told Kashmir Reader that their school has already held meetings in this regard but they are yet to arrive at a consensus.
“Students have not come. We don’t even have any connection. Their syllabus is also incomplete. Expect giving them assignments, nothing else could be done. We can ask them appear in exams,
but who would guarantee them safety,” he added.

Junaid Nabi Bazaz