Onlykashmir.in News Desk
Srinagar: The Jammu & Kashmir Private Schools Association (PSA) has raised concerns over the proposal to introduce a five-day working week, with Saturday and Sunday as holidays, warning that reducing classroom days could affect learning time and increase dependence on private tuition.
The issue was discussed at an emergency meeting of the PSA State Executive Body and district representatives chaired by PSA State President Bilal Ahmad Bhat. The meeting was attended by Senior Vice President Manzoor Ahmad Rather, General Secretary (Organisation) M. Syed Wani, Director Media & Communications and District President Budgam Dr. Owais Mattoo, and Secretary and District President Shopian Hilal Ahmad Khan, besides other office-bearers.
Bilal Ahmad Bhat said the debate should focus not merely on five versus six working days but on the actual teaching time available to students amid vacations, weather disruptions, examinations and holidays.
M. Syed Wani warned that if a teaching day is removed without reducing academic requirements, the lost classroom time could shift to homework, private tuition and coaching, potentially increasing the financial burden on parents.
Hilal Ahmad Khan also called for the financial impact on families to be assessed before any change in the academic calendar.
The PSA pointed to existing benchmarks under the Right to Education Act, 2009, including 200 working days for Classes I–V and 220 days for Classes VI–VIII, and said the National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023 provides an annual framework of 220 school-going/instruction days.
The Association has urged the J&K Government led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Education Minister Ms. Sakeena Itoo, along with Members of the J&K Legislative Assembly, to conduct a comprehensive academic impact assessment and consult teachers, parents, educationists, JKBOSE, Directorates of School Education Department and private school associations before taking a final decision.
The PSA also appreciated the Government’s earlier decision on the November academic session and welcomed the Jammu & Kashmir Private Universities Bill, 2026, while recalling the educational vision of its Founding President and Chief Patron Dr. G.N. Var.
The Association reiterated its support for education reforms but said the central question should be simple: will fewer school days mean more meaningful education, or merely shift the burden from classrooms to tuition centres?
Pertinently, the proposal to introduce a five-day working week was put forward by MLA Justice (Retd.) Hasnain Masoodi and was swiftly seconded by Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr Molvi Umar Farooq. Since then, the proposal has sparked a debate on social media.
