Kashmir unrest: Education sector badly affected
By Aadil Gulam Dar, Master’s in Education, Aligarh Muslim University.
(poet, writer, debater, blogger)
___________________________________________________________________
Main contributories to the lessening of
attainment of quantity of education include destruction of infrastructure, fear
of sending children to schools, incorporation of youth into armed groups,
negative economic shocks to households and forced displacement.
The education sector has been badly hit in
Kashmir Valley since from the inception of unrest in Kashmir mainly from the
year 2106, causing “irreversible loss” to students, the Economic Survey Report has said. “Due to the closure of
schools, the academic session got badly hit to the extent that it caused
irreversible loss of study and tuitions to the students. The exams conducted by
J&K Board of Secondary Education (JKBOSE) for 10th and 12th standard
students covered only 50 per cent of the total syllabus.
“However, an option has been given to the
students to appear in March (for 100 per cent syllabus coverage) also,”
according to the Economic Survey Report, 2016, tabled in the Assembly today.
It said 31 school buildings were gutted — 17
fully and 14 partially — during the five-month-long unrest following the
killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter, whereas 15
school buildings were saved by employees of education department and local
community from being burnt.
In 2016, schooling could be conducted only for a
period of four months in Kashmir valley. The 10th class and 12th class exams
held in November covered only 40 per cent to 50 per cent of the total
curriculum, adding that students of classes 1st to 9th had to be given mass
promotion.
The exposure to violence and armed conflict
reduces the quantity of education attained by children of conflict areas. Main
contributories to the lessening of attainment of quantity of education include
destruction of infrastructure, fear of sending children to schools, incorporation
of youth into armed groups, negative economic shocks to households and forced
displacement.
The loss of 50 per cent content of the syllabus
will surely have to be covered by the student community itself so that they are
able to compete in ensuing entrance exams held at the national level.Around 95
per cent students have appeared in the 12th board exam and 99 per cent students
have appeared in the 10th exam in the Valley and decision was taken by the
government for relaxing Term-2 examination from classes 1st to 8th.The total
strength of the enrolled students in 10th and 12th classes in the Valley
schools is of the order of 56,277 and 31,964, respectively, during academic
session 2016. In higher education institutes, where the session started in
March, class work could be conducted up to July 8 only and from July 9, the
colleges have also been closed, resulting in loss of study of 130 days and more.This
has resulted in the delay in the coverage of 1st semester syllabus and also is
resulting in the delayed conduct of 1st semester exams, adding that hartals
have also badly affected coverage of other semester studies.Similarly, in the
universities in the Valley, the class work at Master level remained badly
affected. The class work in medical colleges and NIT was also affected
badly, resulting in stress to students and their parents.
In the academic session 2016-17, 84,811
students are enrolled in all government degree colleges in Kashmir as against
the strength of 72,000 in 2015-16. The loss of studies of 130 days and more is
“irreparable” and will have to be compensated through conduct of evening
classes and additional classes on holidays to make the students have the
knowledge in order to enable them to compete with student community at the
country level.The level of expenditure during the first two quarters of 2015-16
was of the order of Rs 26.79 crore, while expenditure during the first two
quarters of financial year 2016-17 is of the order of Rs 48.43 crore.It further
said that Rs 8.98 crore has been utilised on development of infrastructure of
University of Jammu, University of Kashmir, Islamic University, Baba Ghulam
Shah Badshah University and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University.
The prevailing turmoil and strikes in Kashmir
Valley have obvious implications on the implementation of technical education
programmes. The impact of strikes has been deep and profound on the
educational atmosphere in the Valley.Technical education institutions/students
in the valley were not able to complete their academic/practical work fully
within the prescribed period.Skill-based courses require no disruption in the
process in order to guarantee easy transmission of skills. The normal skill
imparting process as well as new skill development initiatives got hampered due
to strikes, resulting in truncation of initiatives.This may consequently affect
the formation of generation’s next workforce. The infrastructure development is
a key to progress and economic development of every sector.A good number of
working days have been lost due to the prevailing strike resulting in
non-creation of adequate infrastructural facilities in various institutions and
slow execution of new projects/works in the valley.
For proficiency and efficiency, the
up-gradation of available facilities and equipment used in the teaching and
learning in the technical/craft institutes, is a must.But, due to incessant
strike, action in this regard got hindered. Closure of financial institutions
also led to recording of low financial progress under various programmes during
the period.
Education is that weapon which challenges and
defeats each and every war
– A G DAR
Aadil Gulam Dar
Master’s in Education (Completed)
Aligarh Muslim University.
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