Schools in Shambles

In the atmosphere of chaos and confusion prevailing in Kashmir though the focus of the government should have been the education and henceforth the normal academic activity in Schools, Colleges and universities but unfortunately the government does not properly attend the issues concerning facility of adequate teaching staff and the necessary infrastructural facilities in schools and colleges. The recent incidents in the remote villages of the Handwara area of the Kupwara district are really stunning as the Independent MLA from Langate Er Rasheed threw open a school in village Dardhaji after remaining closed for about nineteen days and for the last several days students of Bhenipora Higher Secondary School are out on the streets to protest against the government’s negligence in addressing the long pending issue of staff shortage and the accommodation facilities in the school. As regards the issue of the closure of Dardhaji school for about nineteen days the government did not act against the teachers for remaining absent and the ZEO concerned for failing to oversee the working of the schools in his zone but the Dy Chief Education Officer Handwara was suspended without investigating his role in the working of the schools in the concerned education zone. Had the government suspended the teachers, the concerned ZEO and the Chief Education Officer of the concerned district the action of the authorities won’t have come into questions. Leaving teachers and the ZEO of the concerned zone unpunished and punishing a man who occupies a position in between CEO of the district and ZEO of the zone concerned is in itself an indication that the action taken by the authorities is politically motivated. Similar is the issue concerning staff shortage and lack of infrastructural facilities at Higher Seconday School Bhenipora Handwara where the students are out on the streets to protests the government’s inaction on issues concerning the working of the school.
Though Director School Education Kashmir has come out with a clarification that he will ensure the deputation of four lecturers and some teachers as per the staff strength of the schools but the department should have taken measures to overcome the staff shortage in the school much before the opening of schools after two and a half month long winter break early this month. Surprisingly the higher secondary schools Bhenipora has just one lecturer against sanctioned strength of 14 lecture and as on date only three teachers ,one lecturer and a vice Principal looking after the duties of Principal are available for carrying out administrative and academic working in the school. Since the availability of the teaching staff and the infrastructural facilities are the issues which generate emotional bonding of the students with the educational institutions the helmsmen in the education department have to address the issues of academic and institutional improvements on priority and more in the prevailing hostile atmosphere in Kashmir .