Gowher Bhat
In Srinagar, the capital city of Jammu and Kashmir, a peculiar sight has become all too common: vibrant banners and posters plastered across the city’s walls and lamp posts, each proclaiming a promise of academic excellence. “Your Child, the Next Doctor or Engineer!” they shout, drawing attention to the numerous coaching centers that have mushroomed in the region. This surge in extra-curricular educational institutions paints a vivid picture of an underlying crisis within the valley’s educational system.
The financial toll on families in pursuit of these educational promises is immense. For many, the dream of seeing their children succeed in prestigious careers comes at a high cost. Coaching centers, often charging fees that exceed ₹1 lakh for a single course, place a significant burden on families already navigating economic hardships. This financial strain forces parents into making tough decisions, stretching their budgets thin or even dipping into savings meant for other essential expenses, all in the hope of securing a brighter future for their offspring.
However, the reliance on such coaching centers points to a more profound systemic failure within the government-run educational institutions. The 2024 Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) reveals stark inadequacies in the education system here. Over 52% of students in Class VIII from government schools struggle with reading texts at a Class II level, and only 28% can perform basic division, underscoring a dire need for foundational literacy and numeracy skills.
The educational infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir is equally concerning. A critical shortage of teachers, particularly those specialized in key subjects, plagues the system. Nearly 80% of upper primary schools lack subject-specific educators, which directly impacts the quality of education delivered. Without adequate teaching resources, students are left in classrooms where they receive little to no instruction in essential areas like mathematics or science, crucial for their academic and professional development.
Moreover, the educational landscape is witnessing a troubling trend of declining student enrollment. Data from the local government indicates a significant drop of 61,451 students from the academic year 2022-23 to 2023-24. This decline is not just numbers but a reflection of the community’s diminishing confidence in the public education system. The physical infrastructure of schools further amplifies these issues. Over half of the schools do not have separate toilet facilities for girls, and 30% lack adequate water supply, issues that not only affect health and hygiene but also the dignity and safety of students.
The commercialization of education, as evidenced by the proliferation of coaching centers, is another layer to this crisis. These centers, while filling an educational void, are often criticized for turning education into a luxury good, accessible mainly to those who can afford it. This commercialization not only deepens social inequalities but also shifts the focus from learning for knowledge to learning for profit. Critics argue that the educational ethos is being replaced by a business model where success is measured by the number of students passing competitive exams rather than by their holistic development.
The need for comprehensive educational reform in Kashmir is evident. Experts and educators call for substantial investments in public schools. This includes not only physical infrastructure like better classrooms, sanitation, and water facilities but also human resources — recruiting and training qualified teachers to ensure every student has access to quality education. There’s a pressing need to shift from a curriculum centered on rote learning to one that encourages critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills, preparing students for a wide array of future opportunities rather than just traditional career paths.
A local father in Srinagar encapsulates this sentiment well when he reflects on the essence of education. He argues that true education should foster a lifelong love for learning, nurture critical thinking, and support each child’s unique aspirations, rather than being confined to the preparation for high-stakes exams conducted by coaching centers.
As Kashmir grapples with these educational challenges, the path forward involves not only addressing immediate infrastructural and staffing issues but also reimagining education’s role in society. Only through such systemic changes can the youth of Kashmir hope for an education system that truly equips them for the complexities of the modern world, ensuring that the promise of “Your Child, the Next Doctor or Engineer!” is not just a catchy slogan but a tangible reality for all.
(Note:Gowher Bhat is a writer, storyteller, and educator exploring love, family, and life’s quiet struggles through literary fiction and reflective articles.)
