Most of the schools on Saturday were out bounds due to water logging and snow accumulation forcing the divisional administration to order for closure of all educational institutions across Kashmir. The decision also coincided with the Supreme Court decision on Ayodhya Verdict as well in wake of which the administration had to impose section 144 in various parts of Kashmir.According to wire service—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the roads including approach roads leading to the schools and colleges in Kashmir were drenched in stagnant waters while as snow was not cleared in most of the lanes as well.An official said the decision to close schools was taken by the divisional administration after taking feedback from all the deputy commissioners about the status of snow clearance in the districts.“As most of the schools are located in the interiors of the city areas and other towns, there was no snow clearance on the roads which prompted the government to order for closure of educational institutions in Valley,” an official told KNO.The official said the attendance of students remains thin these days in schools and colleges given the ongoing exams but the teachers report to schools on daily basis. “But the schools were closed for convenience of teachers,” the official said.
Also the educational institutions were closed given the non-availability of heating arrangements and proper infrastructure in schools. As per the official figures, around 7000 schools in Kashmir are without electricity facility depicting the sluggishness of the department to equip schools with basic facilities in schools.“The department has failed to use the available funds for electrification of all schools due to which the schools are lacking this basic facility,” the official told KNO.The official also said most of the schools-set up under erstwhile SSA scheme, are located in hilly areas or in cut off places which are still.On Friday, the divisional administration had ordered for closure of all colleges and schools in Kashmir and also imposed section 144 in Kashmir which remained in place on Saturday.“The announcement coincided with the supreme court judgment on Ayodhya verdict. But the roads leading to schools were already covered under snow,” the official said.The official said the divisional commissioner also convened a meeting with director school education Kashmir (DSEK) and sought feedback about the arrangement put in place in schools particularly those designated as exam centres.“The department was unprepared to handle the situation as the students were not given any heating arrangement in exam centres,” the official said. (KNO)