There is a new discussion going on in Kashmir about keeping Saturday and Sunday as holidays for schoolchildren and students. The idea is being discussed widely, and many people may welcome it because children are already under a lot of academic pressure. But I have some concerns about this decision, particularly when we compare the situation of Kashmir with schools abroad.
Can we really compare our educational system with the systems outside the country? We have to understand that the situation is different. Kashmir has its own weather conditions, its own academic calendar and its own challenges. We already have summer vacations and long winter vacations, apart from the days that are lost because of bad weather and other unavoidable circumstances. We also have a limited number of working days for both students and teachers. In such a situation, if we add another full holiday every week, we should first think about how we will cover the syllabus and provide the quality education that our children deserve.
I understand the concerns of parents and students. Children are carrying a lot of burden these days. They go to school with heavy bags, spend hours in classrooms and then return home with homework and other assignments. Parents also feel that their children need more time to rest and enjoy themselves. But I believe that the real problem is not necessarily the number of school days. The real problem is the way we are providing education.
Instead of simply adding another holiday, why can we not introduce one special day every week for students? I would suggest that every school should have one mandatory Bag-Free Activity Day. On that day, students should come to school without their regular school bags, textbooks, notebooks and pencils. They could even be allowed to come in comfortable casual dress according to the school's guidelines. The entire day could be dedicated to sports, games, art, storytelling, creative activities, practical learning, teamwork and other activities that children enjoy.
Such a day would give children a break from their regular academic routine while still keeping them connected with school and learning. They would be able to enjoy themselves, interact with other students and learn things through activities rather than simply sitting in a classroom and writing in notebooks.
The idea also connects with the spirit of NEP 2020, which emphasizes activity-based, experiential and play-based learning. We often talk about providing education through activities, but in reality, many children are still carrying the burden of books, homework and examination-oriented learning. We need to seriously think about how we can make education more enjoyable and meaningful for them.
I am not saying that children do not need holidays. Of course, they need rest, family time and recreation. But before comparing Kashmir with schools abroad, we should also look at the differences in our circumstances. In many places outside the country, schools have different academic calendars, different weather conditions, different technological facilities and different ways of continuing education. Even during long vacations, digital learning and other resources may be available to students. We cannot simply compare those systems with Kashmir without considering our own realities.
Kashmir already has long winter closures and summer vacations, and weather conditions can sometimes affect the academic calendar. Therefore, we need to think carefully about the number of actual working and teaching days available to our students. If we reduce the number of school days further, we also need to ask how the lost academic time will be covered without putting even more pressure on children and teachers.
In my view, instead of simply reducing school days, we should focus on reducing the burden within those school days. Let children have a day where they can come to school without a heavy bag, without unnecessary homework and without the pressure of regular classroom learning. Let them play, create, participate, explore and learn through experience.
As a small writer and someone who has some understanding and interest in education, I feel that this issue needs more discussion before any decision is taken. We should not simply copy an idea because it is being followed somewhere else. We should first ask whether it suits the educational, climatic and social conditions of Kashmir.
Our children deserve rest, but they also deserve an education that they can enjoy. Perhaps the answer is not another full holiday. Perhaps the answer is to make one day of the school week completely different.
One day. No heavy bags. No unnecessary homework. More play, more activities, more creativity and more meaningful learning.
That could be a better way to give our children both education and the freedom to enjoy their childhood.

Email:------------------------khandanishashraf506@gmail.com