Schools reopen in Kashmir after 100 days

Srinagar : Nearly after 100 days of shutdown, educational institutions in Kashmir are being reopened on Monday following a state government’s directive to school authorities on Sunday as curfew has been lifted from most of the areas of the valley.

However, the hardline faction of the separatist Hurriyat Conference has given a call for a shutdown on Monday and appealed to students and parents not to cooperate with the government?s directive.

The Omar Abdullah’s government’s move to reopen the schools came following the Union Government’s eight-point peace package for the Kashmir Valley.

Transports are is being provided to teachers and students on 11 important routes in Srinagar.

School uniforms will be treated as identity proof and school buses will be allowed passage in curfew.

Examinations for Class 10 and Class 12 are to start in the last week of October and first week of November respectively.
The administration has advised parents to call the police station concerned in case they need help in sending their wards to schools on Monday onwards.

Chief minister Omar Abdullah has appealed to all Kashmiris, particularly the separatists, to rise above their stated positions and ideologies and join hands to secure the future of Kashmir’s children, held hostage to violence.

Educational institutions remained closed for the past three months in the Valley due to shutdowns called by separatists and weeks of intermittent curfew.

A number of parents have moved their children to other parts of the country for their education and future.
?Though education is important, the government can?t use our children to suppress the agitation,?? said Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

The J & K government on Sunday lifted curfew after two weeks of strict restrictions and declared schools and educational institutions opened from Monday.

Life was normal in Srinagar, Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian and Awantipora as people stepped out to buy rations. However, curfew on Srinagar-Baramulla road continued.

The local administration said though the news of reopening of schools was coming from some areas, but exact figure such institutes was yet to be confirmed.