*Mirwaiz Backs Two-Day School Break In J&K, Says Students Need Time Beyond Classrooms*
*Support Comes Amid MLA Masoodi’s Push For Five-Day School Week; Minister Sakina Itoo Had Earlier Said Proposal Would Be Examined By DSEK, DSEJ, Director Colleges J&K*
Aazan Manzoor
Srinagar, Sep 20 (JKNS): Mirwaiz Kashmir Molvi Mohammad Umar Farooq on Sunday has extended support to the proposal for a two-day weekly break for school students in Jammu and Kashmir, saying children need adequate time for family, play and community activities alongside their studies.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Seerat programme at Jamia Masjid, Srinagar, as per news agency JKNS, Mirwaiz said, “I believe that this is the right decision. I support it 100 per cent. We feel that the children should get at least two days off.”
“If students will get Saturday and Sunday off, they will better prepared for Schools on Monday, so, i think it is good decision and government must go ahead,” Mirwaiz said
His remarks come amid Pampore MLA Hasnain Masoodi’s proposal for a five-day working week for schools, aimed at easing the academic load on students. Masoodi has said his resolution was not included in the selected list for the upcoming Assembly session, but he would still raise the matter in the House.
Masoodi had also raised the issue with Education Minister Sakeena Itoo during a programme at DIET Pampore. Itoo said the matter would be examined and that the proposal would be sent to the Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) and Directorate of School Education Jammu (DSEJ) for examination.
Mirwaiz said the focus of education should not be limited to completing the syllabus and that students should have time for their families, play and community activities.
“Our focus should not only be on education, that we have to complete the syllabus. The overall focus of the children should be that they get time at home, they get time with their family, they get time to play, they get time to go to their community,” he said.
He said students were already dealing with schoolwork, tuition and additional classes and that a two-day break could help them return to school with a “fresh mind”.
Mirwaiz also referred to the two-day weekends followed in several countries, saying the government should consider the practice for students in Jammu and Kashmir.
“I believe that the government should move forward with this practice and announce a two-day holiday so that the children can come to their schools on Monday with a fresh mind,” he said. (JKNS)
