Kashmir School Timings Likely to Change from Monday, Confirms Education Minister

Students and teachers across the Kashmir Valley may need to adjust their daily routines soon, as the Education Minister has hinted at revised school timings likely to be implemented from Monday. This change is being considered in light of recent weather conditions and shifting daylight hours. While an official order has not been issued yet,

I’m writing about this update because school timings play a direct role in shaping the everyday lives of students, teachers, and even parents. In regions like Kashmir, where seasons have a significant impact on daily life, adjusting school hours becomes essential for safety and practicality. This isn’t just a routine administrative change—it affects how students commute, how parents plan their mornings, and how schools manage schedules. It’s important for everyone involved in the education system to be aware of such developments, especially when they reflect larger issues such as infrastructure, weather, and seasonal challenges in the Valley.

Revised Timings Likely to Tackle Seasonal Shifts

The suggestion to change school hours comes as Kashmir transitions into the latter half of the year, when mornings grow darker and colder. Schools in many areas currently start quite early, which can be uncomfortable for young students in chilly weather. The revised schedule is expected to help mitigate such issues, especially for students coming from rural or distant areas.

The Education Minister noted that discussions are already underway with concerned officials. If implemented, the new timing is likely to push the start of the school day to a slightly later hour, providing more daylight and easing early-morning challenges.

What Has Prompted the Change?

According to officials, two main reasons are behind this likely revision:

Seasonal weather conditions: As Kashmir moves into late summer and early autumn, the mornings get darker and cooler. Many parents and teachers have raised concerns about students leaving home before sunrise, especially younger children.
Safety and transport: In areas with limited transport and long travel distances, dark mornings create safety concerns for both girls and boys commuting to school.

Past adjustments to school timings have shown that flexible scheduling helps improve attendance and overall punctuality. The Education Department is considering local feedback before finalising the new schedule.

How Will This Impact the School Routine?

While nothing has been finalised yet, if the new timing comes into effect:

Morning assembly times will likely shift
School transport schedules will be restructured
Working parents may need to make slight changes in their morning planning
Tuition and after-school activity timings may also see some adjustment

Many school heads have welcomed the move, stating that it would make early morning operations smoother, especially during foggy or rainy days.

Awaiting Official Notification

Though the Education Minister has hinted at the change, a formal government order is still awaited. Parents and school administrators are advised to keep an eye on updates from the Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK), which usually issues circulars about timing changes.

Until then, schools are expected to continue with their current routine.

Education and Employment Can Transform Society: Dinesh Gundu Rao Highlights the Way Forward

During a recent public address in Mangaluru, Karnataka’s Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao stressed that education and employment are two powerful tools that can shape the future of any society. He pointed out that when people are educated and have meaningful jobs, they can rise above social divisions, poverty, and other long-standing issues. His statement came while addressing students and faculty at a function organised at Srinivas University, where he also touched on the importance of knowledge-driven growth.

I felt the need to write about this because it’s rare to hear such a strong political focus on the link between education, employment and overall societal transformation. We often hear about schemes, budgets and infrastructure, but rarely is the bigger picture discussed—how these two sectors can change the life of a common person. This topic matters to all of us, especially the youth, who are navigating a fast-changing job market while also dealing with rising academic pressure. By writing about this, I hope more people start thinking seriously about how education is not just about degrees, and employment is not just about money—it’s about dignity, stability and progress.

Why Education and Employment Matter Together

Education and employment are often treated as separate issues, but in reality, they go hand-in-hand. Education gives people the ability to think, create and contribute. Employment gives them the opportunity to apply what they know, support their families, and be part of the economy. According to Dinesh Gundu Rao, these two pillars must be developed together if we want a fairer and more productive society.

He stressed that:

Lack of access to education pushes people into poverty.
Unemployment leads to frustration, crime, and brain drain.
A society that fails to create job-ready youth will always remain unequal.

This is why investing in schools, colleges, and job-oriented courses is not just a policy decision—it’s a moral responsibility.

Government’s Role in Creating Equal Opportunities

During the event, Rao mentioned that governments should focus not only on building schools and colleges but also on ensuring the quality of education. He said students from rural areas often struggle because they don’t have the same access to English-medium teaching or computer labs as those in urban areas. This kind of inequality reflects in the job market too, where rural youth get fewer chances.

He also pointed out that:

Many graduates remain unemployed or underemployed because they are not industry-ready.
There is a big gap between what is taught in classrooms and what the job market demands.
Career counselling and vocational training should start at the school level.

According to him, if we want to see real change, we need long-term thinking and serious government commitment—not just one-time policies or election promises.

Importance of Social Harmony for Progress

One of the key messages Rao delivered was about unity. He said education should be a tool to unite people and not divide them. The minister raised concern about how communalism and polarisation are slowly taking attention away from important issues like job creation and educational reform.

He added that:

When youth are unemployed, they are more vulnerable to divisive ideologies.
Education can help people develop critical thinking and tolerance.
A strong education and employment ecosystem reduces dependence on populist politics.

He urged young people to stay informed, ask questions, and focus on real-life issues rather than distractions.