SRINAGAR: The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday voiced its strong support for the reimplementation of the November-December school session in Jammu and Kashmir. The party welcomed this move as a necessary correction of what it described as a “patently retrograde decision” to shift the academic calendar to March.
In a statement issued in Srinagar, Naeem Akhtar, former Education Minister and senior PDP leader, criticized the March session for causing substantial academic disruptions. He highlighted that the original October academic calendar had been introduced decades ago to address the region’s specific climatic and geographical challenges.
Akhtar noted that a committee led by the then Governor Bhagwan Sahai had recommended the academic calendar, which had since proven beneficial in preventing learning losses during the harsh winter months. “The earlier shift to the March session was detrimental to the academic progress of students, particularly given the unique conditions of Jammu and Kashmir,” Akhtar remarked.
He also stressed the importance of this decision as a step towards broader educational reforms. “We welcome the government’s move and hope it marks the beginning of meaningful improvements in the education sector,” Akhtar added.
The PDP leader urged the administration to focus on reforms that elevate the quality of education, particularly in government schools, which he described as the foundation of the public education system in the region. He called for a sustained effort to place student welfare at the centre of educational policies.
Akhtar concluded by encouraging the government to continue prioritising initiatives that ensure academic continuity and enhance educational standards in Jammu and Kashmir, especially given the region’s unique challenges.
