“Whose Clock Should School Bell Follow?”; IAS Officer Shahid Choudhary Calls for Review of School Timings in Kashmir
Srinagar, Oct 11: IAS officer from Jammu and Kashmir, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, has called for a serious review of school timings in Srinagar amid colder mornings and shorter days, emphasising the need to prioritise children’s sleep, physical activity and mental wellbeing.
In a post on his Facebook timeline, as per news agency JKNS, Choudhary questioned whether existing school schedules adequately account for the entire day of young children, including early departures from home and delays in returning after school.
“For younger children, the real school day begins at home, not at the school gate. Are we assessing that entire day, or only the hours printed on the timetable?” he wrote.
Referring to sleep requirements for children aged 6–12 years, Choudhary cited recommendations of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, which suggest 9–12 hours of sleep for this age group. He also noted that research indicates even modest sleep loss can affect children’s alertness and emotional regulation.
He stressed that discipline should strengthen a child’s capacity to learn rather than be confused with endurance, adding that science may not prescribe one perfect timetable but provides reasons to question routines that compromise sleep and recovery.
Choudhary called for schools and parents in Srinagar to jointly review seasonal timings, age-appropriate school hours, transportation arrangements and dispersal delays.
He further observed that merely delaying the school start time without considering the time children return home would not offer a complete solution, emphasising the need to maintain a balance throughout the day.
Highlighting the importance of child-centred education, he said children’s readiness to learn and overall wellbeing should guide decisions on school schedules rather than the convenience of established routines.
Choudhary suggested that a school schedule from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM deserved serious consideration, balancing focused learning with adequate sleep, physical activity and mental wellbeing. (JKNS)