Education worst hit during clampdown

Srinagar: While schools, colleges and universities are functioning normally in the Jammu and Ladakh divisions of the two Union Territories, the same cannot be said for the Kashmir Valley where education has taken the worst beating because of the clampdown.

Authorities have opened schools up to the 10th standard in the Valley, but the attendance of children in these educational institutions has been disappointing so far.

"All the teaching staff have been attending their duty regularly in the Valley''s government-run schools, though the attendance of children has not improved," said an official of the School Education Department.

Parents have been reluctant to send children to school as they are unable to keep track of them because of the suspension of mobile phone services.

"During normal days we would keep a track of our children through mobile phones by calling the school authorities, or the bus drivers in case of private schools.

"In the present uncertain situation, no one wants to take a chance with the child''s safety especially when mobile phones are not working," said Javaid Shah father of two school-going children in Srinagar old city.