Srinagar, Sep 19: In a latest development, Jammu and Kashmir will work out the possibility of introducing a five-day week for children in government and private schools.
The move comes after the Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Pampore constituency, HasnainMasoodi raised the issue about the less leisure time available for the students and decided to raise the issue in the Autumn session of J&K Assembly scheduled from September 21, 2026.
Talking to Greater Kashmir, MLA Masoodi said he will raise the issue, concerning lakhs of schoolchildren, in the upcoming session of the Legislative Assembly.
“My recommendations will be that there should be only five working days for schoolchildren, while Saturday and Sunday should be holidays so that they get judicious leisure time at home,” he told Greater Kashmir.
He said that society has been debating and talking about issues with regard to men and women while nobody talks about the children
“One day (Sunday) is not enough for them. On Sunday, students again prepare themselves for the next working day (Monday) and they don’t have time for themselves. Even most students get huge homework which consumes their single off-day (Sunday),” he added.
He said a five-day week was routine in many countries and adopting it in Jammu and Kashmir will benefit the overall well-being of the students.
“Many countries including J&K have shifted from normal written exams to summative assessment for students up to class 10th. So, shifting to five-day week will benefit them as well,” MLA Pampore said.
He said schoolchildren were already overburdened with heavy school bags which get heavier with each passing year.
“They get consumed in a long week and need enough free time as well. It is not only about closing schools for two days but I believe that it is necessary for the mental health of students. We should respect their leisure time as well,” he added.
When asked if the issue would spark a debate among stakeholders, the NC MLA from Pampore said parents would want their kids to join schools even on Sunday to have their own leisure time.
“If we listen to the parents, they want their kids to go to school on Sunday as well so that they have good leisure time. But we have to think about students as well,” he told Greater Kashmir.
In wake of this, minister for education Sakina Itoo said the proposal put forth by the MLA HasnainMasoodi will be sent to the Director School Education Kashmir (DSEK), Director School Education Jammu (DSEJ) besides the Director Colleges J&K as well.
“The Directors will be asked to examine the proposal and see the possibility of implementing it,” Itoo said while addressing a gathering.
She further said that MLA Masoodi claimed children get suffocated by carrying heavy school bags and do not get free time after reaching home.
“The students, as per the MLA (sahab) do not get tired by studying but by carrying school bags on their shoulders. He suggested there should be two holidays a week. We will examine it and decide accordingly,” she added.
