The Jammu and Kashmir administration Thursday issued a circular directing all government degree colleges in Kashmir to shift to online classes in response to the formidable challenges posed by the early onset of winter. However, sources say that the order is a direct fallout of the protests at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) and another college over the alleged blasphemous post against prophet Mohammad and subsequent protests by the student.
Late Thursday evening, after NIT announced early winter vacations amid ongoing exams, the Higher education department also ordered the closure of all colleges and shift to online mode.
“Due to the early onset of winter, students enrolled in Government Degree Colleges of Kashmir Division are facing major challenges in commuting to college and, thereby, attending classes. The situation has been compounded due to disruption to normal class work with inadequate heating arrangements” the officials said.
Justifying the closure of colleges on weather grounds, officials said that with the implementation of admission based on merit and choice, students have to travel distances or stay in Hostel or stay in private accommodations which have put them in severe hardship due to the early onset of harsh winter,” in the Circular issued by Higher Education Department vide no 06-HE(JK) of 2023, the order reads.
“To ensure unhindered academic delivery in adverse and extremely cold conditions, it is impressed upon all the Principals of Government Degree Colleges of Kashmir Division that classes will be conducted via online mode w.e.f. 01.12.2023 till 31st December 2023 or till winter vacations are announced, whichever is earlier.”
“Further, Principals of Govt. Degree Colleges of Kashmir Division are directed to ensure that the faculty will attend their respective colleges regularly and take their classes online from the colleges to complete the syllabus as per the academic calendar. Besides, all internal examinations and semester-end examinations will be conducted as per the notified schedule of universities/institutions,” the order further reads.
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