“While Kashmir’s revised school timings (10 am/10:30 am starts) adapt to colder weather and shorter days, the late afternoon dismissals—especially outside Srinagar—create practical commute challenges during winter.”
The decision to revise school timings across Kashmir from October 15 is a necessary adjustment to changing seasonal conditions. As temperatures fall and daylight hours shorten, the functioning of educational institutions must reflect the realities of winter in the Valley. However, changing the clock alone is not enough. The administration must ensure that the revised schedule genuinely eases the difficulties faced by students, teachers and parents during the colder months. Under the revised schedule, schools within Srinagar’s municipal limits will function from 10 am to 3:30 pm, while institutions outside the municipal limits and in other areas of Kashmir will operate from 10:30 am to 4 pm. The changes apply to both government and recognised private schools. Although the delayed start offers students some relief from early-morning cold, the later closing time in areas outside Srinagar’s municipal limits raises questions about the practical challenges of returning home during winter afternoons. Winter in Kashmir is not merely a seasonal inconvenience. For many students, particularly those in rural and far-flung areas, attending school involves walking considerable distances, waiting for public transport and travelling through poorly lit or foggy roads. As daylight hours shrink, an afternoon departure can expose children to additional difficulties, especially when temperatures drop rapidly towards evening. The decision to begin classes later in the morning is welcome, but the administration must also consider the timing of dispersal. An adjustment that delays the start of the school day should not unnecessarily push students’ journeys home into colder and darker conditions. The Directorate of School Education Kashmir should therefore assess whether school closing times need to be advanced further as winter progresses. A uniform schedule may be administratively convenient, but geographical differences, road conditions and variations in daylight across the Valley deserve consideration. Schools in remote areas may face challenges that institutions within Srinagar city do not encounter to the same extent. The impact of school timings extends beyond classrooms. Parents must arrange transport, teachers must commute, and school buses must complete their routes safely. Private schools, in particular, should not interpret the revised schedule as an opportunity to extend classes, conduct additional activities or delay dispersal beyond the prescribed time.
“To ensure students are not forced to choose between education and safe winter travel, authorities must align school timings with harsh weather conditions like snowfall and icy roads. Adjustments need to address the entire journey—both arriving and returning—while maintaining instructional standards, communicating changes early, and keeping student welfare at the core of all administrative decisions.”
The authorities must ensure strict implementation of the order and establish a mechanism for addressing complaints about non-compliance. Schools should communicate their schedules clearly to parents and ensure that transport arrangements remain aligned with the revised timings. At the same time, the administration must recognise that many students depend on shared transport or walk home. Their safety should carry greater weight than administrative convenience or the desire to complete a rigid timetable. Adjusting school hours should not mean compromising the quality of education. Schools must organise classroom activities efficiently and ensure that students continue to receive adequate instructional time. Any further changes should be communicated well in advance so that parents, teachers and school managements can plan accordingly. The Government should also remain prepared to review the schedule in response to severe cold waves, snowfall, icy roads or other weather-related disruptions. Seasonal adjustments must be accompanied by timely decisions when conditions become unsafe. Ultimately, the purpose of changing school timings is to make education more accessible and safer during winter. A policy that delays the morning start but overlooks the difficulties of the return journey would address only part of the problem. Children should not have to choose between attending school and travelling safely in winter conditions. The administration must keep their welfare at the centre of every decision, ensure that schools adhere to the prescribed schedule and make further adjustments wherever necessary. In Kashmir’s harsh winter, protecting students must be as important as keeping classrooms open.
