Latest news with #SakinaItoo
Hindustan Times
09-07-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
MRI unit, cath lab to come up at GMC Baramulla
The Jammu and Kashmir government will establish an MRI unit and a cath lab at Government Medical College (GMC), Baramulla, at a cost of ₹37.5 crore. Deputy commissioner Minga Sherpa reviewed departmental progress under the 2025–26 capex budget through two sector-wise meetings. (HT representative) According to the National Conference, health minister Sakina Itoo announced that a 3 Tesla MRI machine and a Cath Lab will be installed at GMC Baramulla this year. 'AI-based X-ray machines, dialysis units at SDHs/CHCs, and new diagnostic blocks will further boost healthcare infrastructure under CM Omar Abdullah's vision,' the party said in a post on X. Deputy commissioner Minga Sherpa reviewed departmental progress under the 2025–26 capex budget through two sector-wise meetings. He emphasised on transparency, optimal fund use, and strict quality control. Discussions covered irrigation, public works, health, education, rural and urban development. The DC directed officials to clear liabilities, expedite project execution, update the BEAMS portal and submit new work plans by July 10.
Hindustan Times
09-07-2025
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Schools open in Kashmir; govt open to re-adjust school timings: J&K education minister
Schools across Kashmir opened on Tuesday after 15-day summer vacation even as education minister Sakina Itoo said that they are again looking into changing the school timings. Jammu and Kashmir National Conference president Farooq Abdullah with state education minister Sakina Itoo during workers convention in Kulgam on Tuesday. (PTI) From early morning, the students rushed to their schools amid relatively pleasant weather conditions owing to heavy rains on Monday evening which brought relief in the heatwave prevailing in the region for the past over a month. 'The school started on a pleasant note. The weather was good and we also returned early as the schools closed before noon,' said Ansha Bilal, a Class 7 student in central Kashmir. The government had Monday decided not to extend the summer vacation but had changed the school timings - 7.30 am to 11.30 am in municipal areas and 8 am to 12 pm outside municipal limits - owing to hot weather conditions. Talking to the media on Tuesday, education minister Sakina Itoo said that the decision to stick to the new timings was not final. 'The schools opened today. However, I got many calls about the change in timings. These new timings are not final. If we think that it needs further modification, we can do that. The decision is not yet final,' she said. 'If people are demanding for a change in timings, we will adjust that demand. People need not to worry- neither the parents nor the students,' she said. However, the minister was concerned about the completion of the syllabus. 'Our issue is that students have to complete the syllabus for the November (exam) session. That is why we are concluding the vacations so that students can study and complete the syllabus. It is mid July already and we have just two months left after which exams will start from October. The effort is that the students of J&K study well and shine across the country,' she said. The weather experts say that the weather this season has been unusually hot owing to less snowfall in winter, dry weather in spring and absence of monsoon moisture currents over Kashmir in summer. Itoo had said on Monday that the students will also be imparted online classes once they reach home with the exception of primary (1 to 5) classes. Parents also questioned about the efficacy of online classes. 'These decisions seem to be made in AC rooms, without considering the real challenges faced by both faculty and students,' said Afshan Ashai. However, the J&K private schools association, which has been advocating for early morning school timings, stated that the high temperatures were global phenomena which should not prompt schools to close. The association said that its suggestion to start schools as early as 6 am or 7 am was not arbitrary but aligns with models already practised in several hotter Indian states and across the world.
Hindustan Times
08-07-2025
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
No extension in summer break in Valley, schools to open on July 8
J&K education minister Sakina Itoo announced that there would be no extension in summer vacations, which ended on Monday. J&K education minister Sakina Itoo (File) The schools across Kashmir would open from Tuesday with classwork starting from 7.30 am in municipal areas. 'We are reopening schools from tomorrow in Kashmir Division and winter zones of Jammu Division,' Itoo said on X. The schools had closed for summer vacation from June 23, earlier by three weeks than usual, owing to a heatwave in the Himalayan valley. She said that the school timings for Srinagar and other municipal limits would be from 7.30 am to 11.30 am. 'Outside municipal limits (rural areas), the timings would be 8 am– 12 noon,' she said. Itoo said that the students will also be imparted online classes once they reach home with the exception of primary (1 to 5) classes. 'After a 1-hour break, two online classes will follow. Teachers will remain available (in schools) till 2 pm. All heads of institutions must ensure online classes are conducted without exception,' she said. The weather experts say that the weather this season has been unusually hot owing to less snowfall in winter, dry weather in spring and absence of monsoon moisture currents over Kashmir in summer. The weather department has forecast more rain over the next 48 hours.
Time of India
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Row over move to open Valley schools amid heat
Representative image SRINAGAR: A row has erupted between J&K's Omar Abdullah-led government and opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over a decision to reopen schools in Kashmir from Tuesday amid heat that has scorched 72-year records and soared above 37 degree Celsius. PDP has criticised the move as 'cruel'. School timings will be 7:30am to 11:30am in Srinagar and other urban zones, and 8:00am to 12 noon in rural areas, minister of school and higher education Sakina Itoo said Monday. Once classes give over, there will be a one-hour break, followed by two online classes, the minister said, adding teachers will remain available till 2pm in schools. Itoo ordered school heads to ensure online classes without exception. The online classes after school hours have ignited a controversy, with many calling it unprecedented and illogical. School hours in the Valley have usually been between 9am and 3pm, with minor variations. Govt had announced a 15-day summer break on June 23 after temperatures soared across the Valley. 'Dragging groggy children to school at 7:30am in scorching heat, especially when so many govt schools lack fans, is illogical and cruel. Wonder who came up with this absurd and preposterous hybrid diktat,' PDP functionary Iltija Mufti said. Iltija claimed govt's education policies were dictated by private schools that operate like 'money-extorting mafia'. On Sunday, the Private Schools' Association had opposed extension of the summer break, with its president G.N Var pressing for 6am-11am classes to beat the heatwave. PDP legislator Waheed Parra questioned such early-school plans and instead advocated 'hybrid models such as alternate-day physical and online classes'. 'Requiring students to report to schools in Srinagar by 7:30am is unreasonable, particularly for those commuting from far-off areas. Also, school dispersals at 11am or 12 noon, when the day's heat peaks, won't be appropriate,' Parra said. Social media was rife with criticism of the govt's decision, with many saying the summer break be extended. On Saturday, Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 37.4 degree Celsius, highest since 1953 and third-highest in the city's history. The all-time high was 38.3 degree Celsius, logged on July 10, 1946. Met office offered little hope of respite anytime soon. Srinagar IMD director Mukhtar Ahmad told TOI the average temperature in June this year was around 35.6 degrees Celsius, 4 to 5 degrees above normal. While there may be occasional rainfall in the coming days, the weather is expected to remain mostly dry till June 11, Ahmad said.
Mint
21-06-2025
- Climate
- Mint
Summer vacation for schools in Kashmir advanced to June 23 amid intense heatwave
Amid a persistent heatwave, the Directorate of School Education, Jammu and Kashmir, on Saturday ordered the early commencement of summer holidays for all government and recognised private schools up to Higher Secondary level in the Kashmir Division. The vacation will now run from June 23 to July1, instead of starting on July1 as originally planned. "Consequent upon the approval conveyed by the competent authority, it is hereby ordered that all the Government and recognised Private Schools up to Higher Secondary level functioning in the Kashmir Division shall observe summer vacation with effect from 23-06-2025 to 07-07-2025," the official statement has been experiencing its second heatwave since mid-June, with Srinagar now recording some of the highest temperatures in the past two decades. On Thursday, the Meteorological Centre reported that Srinagar was the hottest location in the Himalayan valley, registering 35.2°C — 6.8°C above normal — making it the third-highest temperature ever recorded in the city's history. The School Education Department had already revised school timings in May, when Kashmir experienced its first heatwave between May 18 and 27, with temperatures soaring 6 to 8 degrees above normal. Education minister Sakina Itoo stated that the department has now decided to advance the summer break, originally scheduled from July 1, by at least two weeks in the Valley. 'We are proposing summer vacation from July 1 to 10 and after that we will see the weather condition to decide whether to extend the vacations or not,' she said. Typically, summer vacations in Jammu begin in the first week of July, while in Kashmir they usually commence in the third week. She also mentioned that the department is considering the option of an even earlier start to the holidays. 'We will see if that is possible. We can break even earlier,' she said.
