Riyaz Bhat
Srinagar, Dec 11 : Amid bone chilling winters, the Jammu and Kashmir Higher Education Department has proposed to announce 50-days winter vacations from December-27 for colleges of Kashmir division.
Besides, the department has also proposed 10-days winter vacations for colleges of Jammu division.
Director Colleges of Jammu and Kashmir, Sheikh Ajaz Bashir informed the news agency— that the higher education department has sent a proposal of vacations to the government and was waiting for the final decision.
“As per the academic planner, we have sent a proposal to the government wherein we have anticipated that the 50-days winter vacations shall be announced for the colleges of Kashmir region from December-27 to February-14,” he said.
The Director Colleges further said that it has also asked deans of the universities not to conduct any sort of exams during the vacation period.
In the meantime, the department of higher education in a Uniform Academic Calendar for all academic activities across Jammu and Kashmir said it has been observed that examinations are sometimes scheduled during the vacation period.
“This practice not only disrupts the planned break for students and faculty but also leads to logistical challenges for the colleges,” it reads.
It further states that the extreme climatic conditions during peak winter/summer months, when the winter zone experiences severe cold waves and dense fog and the summer zone experiences scorching heat waves thus making it difficult for students and faculty to commute and to carry out any academic activity during the period.
“Considering the challenges, deans of universities are requested to ensure that no examinations are scheduled during vacation periods. This will help maintain the integrity of the academic calendar, ensuring that students and faculty can enjoy their well-deserved breaks without disruption. Additionally, it will mitigate the difficulties posed by severe climatic conditions, ensuring a smoother, more comfortable academic experience for all involved,” it reads.
About the heating arrangements for students and staff of the colleges of Kashmir region, an official said, “We have already notified that there shall be proper heating arrangements for them.”
Pertinently, the School Education Department earlier this week announced winter vacations in phased manner from December-10 and December-16 respectively in the Kashmir division and winter zones of Jammu division.
Principal Secretary School Education Department Suresh Kumar Gupta in a order had said that for students upto 5th standard, the vacations shall begin from December-10 to February-28 and in case of students from 6th standard to 12th standard, the vacation shall begin from December-16 to February-28-2025.
