As protests widen, Govt announces 17-day summer break

Schools, colleges to remain closed from July 15

Amid escalating protest demonstrations by school students across Kashmir over Gaza killings by Israeli forces, the state government Monday announced a 17-day summer break in the valley, beginning July15.
“The summer vacation will last from July 15 to July 31 in all government and recognized educational institutions in Kashmir region up to the higher secondary level,” Tara Chand, Minister for Education, told Greater Kashmir.
However, officials in the Education department said there was no proposal of announcing the summer break in this week and that the decision was taken in haste, apparently because of fear of violence amid escalating student protests.
“Today’s situation across the Kashmir region forced the state government to pre-pone the summer vacations so that the 
students could not get a chance to assemble and organize protest demonstrations in the educational institutions against the killing of hundreds of Palestinians in Gaza by Israeli forces,” they said.
Students from various educational institutions in the Valley Monday held protest demonstrations at their respective district headquarters.
Director School Education Kashmir, Mir Tariq Ali said summer vacations have been announced after the department received several representations from parents who were demanding break in view of scorching sun.
“Because of scorching heat and holy month of Ramadhan there were reports of students feeling uncomfortable in schools due to heat and we decided to announce summer vacations in order to provide some respite to them,” Tariq said.
“We have already intimated government and private schools up to Higher Secondary level in Kashmir division to observe summer vacations with effect from July 15 till July 31. Any default on part of private schools in observance of the calendar of vacations authorized shall attract action under rules,” he said.
The government today also ordered summer vacation for Government Degree Colleges of Kashmir Division, including winter zone colleges of Jammu Division from 15th July to 30th July.