Why is social media focusing too much attention on winter vacations?
Srinagar: From past few days nitizens are sharing a screen shot or a copy paste of a news item that the school education department has announced winter vacation for the schools. But the screenshot has been captured from the news published last year in November month.
The screenshot has created confusion among masses but the department has not yet issued any clarification about its decision to announce winter vacation for schools this year.
Notably, it is not for the first time that the rumors are making rounds on social media about the announcements about winter vacations but such screenshots are always shared after being doctored by the social media users.
Earlier this year, the secretary school education department Farooq Ahmed Shah had to issue a clarification about the announcement of summer vacations for schools in Kashmir and winter zone areas of Jammu division.
People were spreading rumours on WhatsApp groups and social media about the announcements.
But the reports about summer vacations for schools were totally baseless. So this time also, the department has not announced any vacation for schools so far.
If sources are to be believed, the department has not even sent a proposal to the state administration to get approval for announcement of winter vacation for schools.
“The matter is not even discussed in the department,” a source said. He said the decision whenever taken by government will be announced through print and electronic media at the appropriate time. “And an official information will be released through information department,” he said.
As the screenshot and copy paste of the text as well has been going viral on social media, teachers and students are equally desperate to know its authenticity. However, they are often disappointed after they come to know that it is fake and fabricated.
Besides youth, doubt is raised on in-service teachers as well for creating confusion among masses by sharing these fabricated screenshots.
Earlier a teacher was suspended after he was identified for making a fabricated screenshot viral wherein it was ordered that government decided to adjust all SSA teachers on available vacancies in the department and also implement the 7th pay commission for them. The teacher was a SSA teacher from Ganderbal district.
Director School Education Kashmir (DSEK) G N Itoo said they have not announced any winter vacation for schools so far.
“It is a mischievous act done by some miscreants to create confusion among masses, particularly teachers and students,” he said.
KV Correspondent
