Government order of shutting down 155 privates schools trigger concerns in Kashmir

Government decision to close down 155 private schools built on government lands has been slammed by several educationalists, unions and political parties that have termed it “selective” in its “approach”.

According to the Private School Association of Jammu and Kashmir (PSAJK), the decision will largely harm the future of the children. More than 180,000 students enrolled in 155 private schools are facing questions about their registration after the Jammu and Kashmir administration directed the Revenue Department to “identify the private properties for de-registration” by the Education Department.

“The order is a national issue and a grave injustice. Schools here are already under stress due to the compulsory obtainment of no-objection certificates (NOCs). Do you think books, children and schools are causing pollution?,” GN Var, the leading educationist in the region and president of PSAJK responded.

The order has invoked condemnations within political parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Apni Party, who termed it a “punishment”.

“These are mostly students whose other option is a government school. These institutions provided quality education at a substantially lower cost than the usual private schools. Its effect will be colossal,” Naeem Akhtar, the former education minister, tweeted.

According to the order, the students studying in these private schools “shall be accommodated in nearby government schools after their parents agree to it”. However after the schools submitted the petitions, Justice Moksha Khajuria Kazmi of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh stayed the deregistration till July 18.

“Such an order is like using force and appears selective, which will only harm the future of our children. Children and their parents should be given a choice to decide regarding schools,” Var added.

Not long ago, the UT administration also banned schools run by Falah-e-Aam Trust, which also affected at least 1100 students and triggered concerns among parents regarding the future of their wards.

Several parents who are feeling apprehensive regarding the authorities agenda of canceling the registration lamented that a number of commercial establishments, hotels and schools have been built over the years on leased lands: “Why are authorities selectively targeting some private schools?” parents questioned.

While others also hinted at the Supreme Court judgment in the past that had argued that schools in any manner should be spared while retrieving government lands. “But unfortunately law and justice plays out differently in Kashmir,” another worried parent in Srinagar said.

These private schools were constructed on various categories of land like Shamilat-e-Deh, kahcharie, State, Ahle Islam and mosque many years ago. However, the future of these identified schools appears bleak given the new ruling of the Union Territory of deregistration of all properties built on non-private land.

“The decision of the Government to close down private schools is an arbitrary decision as most of these schools are low budget private schools that are operating on 3 to 4 kanals of state land mostly in rural areas of J&K,” Raja Muzaffar Bhat, an RTI-activist argued that it is disappointing to say the least that a country that enshrined in its constitution about “Right to Education” has proposed a step that stands opposite in spirit. – INDIA NEWS STREAM