BANI, JULLY 08:- MLA Dr. Rameshwar Singh, has written to the education authorities requesting the restoration of the previous school timings in upper hilly areas of Kathua and Udhampur districts.
The appeal comes in response to the recent directive dated 07-07-2025, which mandates that schools in outside municipal areas of Kashmir and Winter Zones of Jammu function from 8 AM to 12 PM, with online classes scheduled from 1 PM to 2:30 PM.
In his letter addressed to education official Madam Sakeena Itoo, Dr. Singh emphasized the difficulties faced by students in remote regions such as Bani, Lohai-Malhar, and upper Udhampur during the monsoon season. He highlighted that most students in these areas travel long distances, often on foot or by limited public transport, which is largely unavailable before 9 AM.
Dr. Singh further pointed out that it takes students between 1 to 2 hours to reach their schools, and by the time they return home, attending online classes becomes impractical. He also raised concerns about poor mobile connectivity in these regions, making virtual learning inaccessible.“In view of the above, it is recommended to restore the previous timing of 10 AM to 4 PM and cancel the online classes for these upper reaches,”
Dr. Singh urged in his official communication.The request has brought attention to the unique geographical and infrastructural challenges faced by students in hilly and remote areas and calls for more region-specific policy implementations in the education sector.
Dr. Singh told the BANI UPDATE Web News Portal that he has personally spoken to Education Minister Sakeena Itoo over the phone regarding this issue. The Minister has assured him that the school timing will soon be revised to address the concerns raised.
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