STATE TIMES NEWS
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Government on Monday announced ‘no summer break’ for educational institutions in Kashmir, Ladakh and Winter Zone of Jammu Division to restore the academic session to pre-flood schedule of last year.
“The government has decided to restore the academic session in educational institutions of Kashmir Division, including Ladakh and Winter Zone of Jammu Division as it used to be prior to September 2014 floods,” an official spokesperson said.
“In order to cover the loss of time due to extended academic session of 2014-15, there shall be no summer vacation in the educational institutions of Kashmir, Ladakh and Winter Zone of Jammu Division this year,” he said.
Education Minister Naeem Akhtar said, “We have asked State Board of School Education (SBOSE) authorities to prepare for examinations to be conducted in October-November as was the practice before September 2014 floods.” Conducting examination for the academic session 2014-15 in March 2015 was an exigency in view of the devastating floods that had affected every sphere of life including academics, he said. “We are now again restoring normalcy in academic calendar,” Akhtar added. Last year’s devastating floods prompted the authorities to postpone all examinations, scheduled for October-November, to March this year, giving rise to the speculations about permanent change in academic calendar. Responding to the public queries regarding change in academic calendar, the State Education Department said that academic session in educational institutions of Kashmir Division and the winter zone of Jammu Division would remain as it used to be prior to September 2014 floods. “Moreover, the institutions have been asked to take care of any further loss of studies due to shortened academic session 2015-16, by arranging extra classes for the students wherever required so that they are ready for examinations by year-end,” the spokesperson said. In view of the instructions issued by Education Department, he said examinations up to 10+2 level would be now again be conducted in October-November instead of March-April, as was done as a special dispensation after the floods.
