Shabir Ahmad
A quiet revolution by Army Goodwill Schools has been unfolding for over two decades in Jammu and Kashmir that is hit by Pakistan sponsored terrorism. The Army Goodwill Schools (AGS) stand as enduring symbols of resilience, compassion, and transformation.
Established by the Indian Army under the visionary Operation Sadbhavana, these institutions have not only bridged the chasm between classrooms and dreams but have also woven threads of unity, empowerment, and progress into the fabric of border communities.
Today, as Jammu and Kashmir strides toward a brighter horizon, the AGS network—comprising 46 schools across Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh—serves as a testament to the profound impact of education as a force for peace and nation-building.
The genesis of this remarkable initiative traces back to the turbulent 1990s, when terrorism backed by Pakistan ravaged J&K, leaving thousands of schools in ruins and generations of youth adrift.
Nearly 5,000 educational institutions in the Kashmir Valley were destroyed or severely damaged, a deliberate tactic to stifle knowledge and fuel division. In response, the Northern Command of the Indian Army launched Operation Sadbhavana in 1998, a holistic goodwill program prioritizing education to “win hearts and minds” while fostering development.
What began as four modest primary schools has blossomed into a robust ecosystem educating over 14,000 students, with support extended to nearly 1,900 state-run schools through infrastructure upgrades and resources. More than 100,000 individuals—students, families, and communities—have reaped the benefits, turning isolated hamlets into hubs of learning and aspiration.
At the heart of the AGS success is their unwavering commitment to accessibility and equity. These schools are strategically located in far-flung, insurgency-prone, and border areas—places like Kupwara, Baramulla, Anantnag, and Poonch—where rugged terrain and limited infrastructure once made education a distant dream.
Take, for instance, the Army Goodwill School in Budkot, near Handwara, established in 2004. With 439 students from nursery to Class 10, affiliated to the Jammu & Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) and following NCERT guidelines, it has pioneered eco-friendly initiatives, aiming to become North Kashmir’s first plastic-free campus.
Similarly, the Hamid Chara Army Goodwill School in Chandigam, Lolab Valley, operational since 2000, offers education up to Class 12 with state-of-the-art facilities, drawing enrollments from diverse social strata and boosting regional literacy rates through modern pedagogy.
In Pahalgam, the fully residential Army Goodwill Public School (AGPS), affiliated to CBSE, provides a nurturing haven for girls from modest backgrounds, complete with boarding and scholarships that shatter socio-economic barriers.
What sets AGS apart is their holistic approach, blending academics with life skills, discipline, and community engagement. Classrooms buzz with NCERT-aligned curricula, augmented by smart boards, digital labs, and tablet-based learning—thanks to recent partnerships like the 2025 MoU with Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) and Extramarks Education Foundation (EEF).
This digitization pilot, covering schools in Uri, Ziran, Margund, Pahalgam, and Poonch, promises to revolutionize teaching in remote locales, making knowledge interactive and inclusive. Beyond books, students thrive in well-equipped libraries, science labs, computer centers, and sports fields, fostering creativity and physical vitality.
Co-curricular gems like the Chinar Book Festival visits for 50 students from Army Goodwill School Naugam in 2025 sparked wonder through author interactions and storytelling, igniting lifelong passions for reading. 19 Community radio stations, such as Radio Baramulla 89.6 FM and Radio Uri 90.0 FM, broadcast educational programs, cultural broadcasts, and awareness campaigns, further knitting schools into the social tapestry.
The true magic of AGS lies in its empowerment of the underserved, particularly girls and children from nomadic or economically vulnerable families. In rural enclaves where cultural norms once confined girls to home, enrollment has surged, backed by scholarships, uniforms, textbooks, and boarding facilities. This has not only elevated female literacy but also cultivated role models who inspire entire villages. 26 Specialized “Shepherd Schools” in grazing meadows like Tosha Maidan and Jumagund ensure even migratory Bakerwal communities receive uninterrupted education during summers.
Psychosocial support addresses trauma from conflict, while vocational tie-ups in tailoring, IT, and entrepreneurship equip youth for self-reliance. Locally hired teachers—over 1,000 strong—infuse cultural relevance, with trailblazers like Mushtaq Ahmed of AGS Tithwal earning the 2023 Principal and Teacher Award for innovative excellence, and 23 educators from 17 schools clinching Bharti Foundation’s Teachers Innovation Awards in 2018. 16 In 2024, Tahir Gaffar of AGS Hajinar received the Excellence in Education Award, underscoring the faculty’s role as “modest agents of social change.”
The fruits of these efforts are evident in stellar academic outcomes and inspiring alumni tales. AGS consistently achieves 100% pass rates in JKBOSE Class 10 and 12 exams, with CBSE-affiliated branches mirroring this triumph—such as the 100% success in 2019 Class 10 boards. 18 23 Extracurricular prowess shines too: Students from AGS Wuzur, Anantnag, clinched two gold medals at the 2024 All-India Innovative Projects Competition, showcasing ingenuity that rivals national peers.
Alumni stories illuminate the human impact. Dr. Mehvish Jan, daughter of a Boniyar shopkeeper, joined AGS Boniyar in 2002 and now interns at SKIMS Srinagar after acing NEET and earning her MBBS—crediting the school’s discipline for her trajectory. 21 Sohail Khan, pursuing BDS at GMC Baramulla, and Amer Aziz, an MBBS student at GMC Jammu from remote Uri, echo this gratitude, hailing scholarships as lifelines that propelled them from humble origins to professional pinnacles.
At AGS Chandigam, one student’s 97% in Class 12 secured the 10th rank in the UT, a beacon for peers. 27 These graduates aren’t just succeeding; they’re returning as mentors, perpetuating a cycle of upliftment.
The ripple effects extend to societal harmony and economic vitality. By uniting children from diverse faiths, castes, and backgrounds, AGS fosters inclusivity, eroding mistrust sown by years of strife. Literacy rates in operational areas have soared, with parents—once wary—now clamoring for expansions.
Local hiring and training programs stimulate economies, while the schools’ resilience against threats from militants—such as the failed 2019 Hizbul Mujahideen boycott—affirms community trust. 0 As one alumnus met at AGS Hajinar in 2021 revealed, these institutions have reclaimed normalcy, turning potential recruits for violence into architects of peace.
The AGS network continues to evolve, partnering with NGOs for enhanced teacher training and psychosocial programs, ensuring every child emerges not just educated, but empowered and empathetic. 30 In a region once scarred by division, these schools remind us that education is the ultimate goodwill—igniting minds, mending divides, and building a Kashmir where dreams outshine the mountains. As the sun rises over Dal Lake, the legacy of Army Goodwill Schools gleams eternal: a promise that from adversity blooms hope, and from knowledge, a united tomorrow.
(Author can be reached at welfare166@gmail.com)
