Srinagar, Sep 19: Schools in Jammu & Kashmir could see a change in their weekly working pattern if a proposal for a five-day school week clears the departmental examination.
The Education Department has agreed to examine a proposal under which schools would remain closed on Saturdays and Sundays, giving students a two-day weekend.
The proposal was raised by National Conference (NC) MLA, Pampore, Hasnain Masoodi, who argued that students face growing academic pressure and spend long hours dealing with school and study-related work.
Masoodi said the present routine can leave students physically and mentally tired by the end of the week. He suggested that keeping both Saturday and Sunday as holidays could give children more time to rest, spend time with their families and return to school better prepared for the week ahead.
Education Minister Sakeena Itoo, responding to the proposal, said the matter would be sent to the concerned authorities for a detailed examination.
The Directorates of School Education Kashmir and Jammu will assess whether a five-day working week can be introduced without affecting the required teaching days, syllabus coverage and examination schedule.
The move puts the focus on a wider question facing the school system, how to balance classroom time with the need for adequate rest among students.
Officials will also have to examine whether the proposed change can fit within the existing academic calendar and mandatory instructional requirements.
The government has not taken a final decision on the proposal. Until the departmental assessment is completed and a formal order is issued, schools across J&K will continue to follow the existing weekly schedule.
If approved, the change would mark a significant shift in the school calendar and give students a fixed two-day weekend. However, its implementation will depend on the findings of the education authorities and the government’s final decision.
