Winter vacations in the Kashmir Valley were conceived as a humane and practical response to harsh climatic conditions, giving children time to rest, recover from academic fatigue, and remain safe indoors during extreme cold. For generations, this break allowed students to recharge physically and mentally while strengthening family bonds. Today, however, the very spirit of winter vacations is being quietly eroded.
As soon as schools close, a parallel education system takes over. Private tuition centres reopen under new labels—academies, winter schools, study centres—running full-day classes that mirror regular school hours, even for nursery and primary children. In effect, the academic calendar continues uninterrupted, defeating the purpose of declaring a break.
These centres flourish by exploiting parental anxiety. Parents are warned that their children will fall behind or lose academic grip if they do not attend winter tuition. For economically vulnerable families—daily wage earners, single-income households, and private-sector workers—the pressure is acute. With limited childcare options and safety concerns, tuition centres present themselves as the only viable choice. The outcome is deeply unequal: children from poorer households remain trapped in rigid schedules, while those from affluent families enjoy rest, recreation, or personalised learning.
If children are required to attend five to six hours of classes during winter vacations, the rationale for the break itself comes into question. Winter holidays exist to protect children from severe cold, restricted mobility, health risks, and academic burnout. Turning this period into an extension of formal schooling undermines both educational wisdom and basic compassion.
The consequences are visible. Child psychologists warn that prolonged academic engagement without meaningful breaks leads to early burnout, anxiety, irritability, and emotional withdrawal. Learning becomes associated with fear rather than curiosity. Physical health suffers too: long indoor hours in overcrowded, poorly heated rooms limit movement, reduce sunlight exposure, and increase susceptibility to illness. Doctors point to rising cases of vitamin D deficiency, weak immunity, posture-related problems, and respiratory infections among children attending extended winter tuition.
Beyond health, something more profound is lost. Winter breaks traditionally offered space for play, storytelling, reading for pleasure, and family interaction—experiences essential for emotional resilience and creativity. Replacing these with worksheets and exams reduces childhood to a single metric: academic performance.
Despite the scale of the problem, regulation remains largely absent. Many temporary tuition centres operate without registration or oversight, easily bypassing scrutiny by rebranding. Education authorities announce winter vacations but fail to enforce their spirit, raising serious questions about accountability.
This practice also conflicts with established legal and policy frameworks. The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, emphasises child-friendly, stress-free learning and holistic development. The National Curriculum Framework 2020 underscores the importance of rest, play, and emotional well-being, particularly in early years. The Juvenile Justice Act recognises children exposed to conditions harmful to their mental or physical health as being in need of care and protection. Constitutionally, Article 21 guarantees the right to life with dignity, which includes health and wholesome development. Internationally, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child affirms every child’s right to rest, leisure, and play—rights effectively denied when vacations become extended school terms.
Addressing this issue requires clear and firm action. Authorities must prohibit full-day academic tuition for young children during winter breaks and enforce existing vacation orders. Schools should reassure parents that rest does not compromise learning. Community-based alternatives—supervised play spaces, reading clubs, and low-cost indoor activities—can support working parents without burdening children academically.
In a region shaped by prolonged uncertainty, children deserve protection from unnecessary pressure. Winter vacations were never meant to fuel another academic race. When education turns into a year-round commercial exercise, childhood becomes the casualty. Kashmir must decide whether winter remains a season of recovery—or is permanently reduced to just another classroom.
The author is a regular columnist and freelance writer.
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