Private School open despite government order.

GNS JAMMU  : Despite Jammu and Kashmir government''s order to keep schools closed in the valley due to the ongoing cold wave, several institutes have been functioning saying the decision was issued at a short notice.The state government earlier this week asked to close down schools in view of cold wave.However, private schools said that they were forced keep the institutes open as the government had issued the orders at a very short notice."The students are going to be home for the next three months and we had not even assigned them the syllabus to be covered during this period. We will close our school from next week after completing this exercise," Farooq Ahmad, a teacher at a private school here, said.The government while

ordering closure of schools upto VIII class on November 29 had warned of strict action against those who failed to comply with the orders.In order to make up for the academic loss during the summer unrest last year, the state government had ordered schools to remain functional till December 31.The state government had spent Rs six crore on installation of heating devices in schools.The academic session in Kashmir valley starts in October-November and schools close for two-and-half-month winter break on December 15.In-charge Director School Education, Kashmir, Mushtaq Ahmad said the decision to close down schools earlier than the usual winter break was taken in view of the sub-zero temperatures in the valley.