J&K Seasonal Schools to Close by End of October

Srinagar, 27 Oct: October is the month when seasonal schools in high pastures of Jammu and Kashmir are preparing to close for winters. Since May, these schools have taken care of the education of nomadic children whose families migrate to cooler mountainous areas.

As winter looms, many nomadic families have begun their annual migration to the plains. The official said nearly 1,826 seasonal schools have been functioning in fifteen districts of J&K this year where about 31 thousand children are being served. In many cases, these schools are essential in ensuring that kids who move all the time never get so far behind on their education.

The official explained that these learning centers are crucial for communities of children in the mountains. “They make it possible for more education to take place while [participants] strengthen their adaptability skills. Where local involvement has really shone, however, is in the assistance provided by volunteers as they present lessons and create an environment for learning.

It makes it easy for kids to return back into local schools as families transition from camp on their way home. This easy transition enables them to stay in the course so they do not fall behind and network with education programs wherever they are located. The seasonal schools are supposed to end by October, before many nomadic families start their winter routines.

The children will be enrolled in normal schools, just like other students when they return to the plains, and they can enjoy similar benefits. This fluidity is as important to their academic development, if not more so—it helps them assimilate back into the communities from which they came.

Seasonal schools do more than just impart knowledge, however; they act as a support system for children of these nomads and provide them with the sort of belonging which their culture often fails to bestow, given its demanding nature. The promise to provide these children educational opportunities runs deep as the schools prepare to close for the season. More broadly, it represents a concern that every child should have an opportunity to learn and grow.