Umaisar Gull Ganie
Kulgam, Nov 10: Clubbing of government schools in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district has left more than 50 school buildings vacant and dilapidated, now serving as hotspots for anti-social activities in various villages.
An official, wishing to be anonymous, said that after the government initiative to merge 2546 schools in the Kashmir zone to address an imbalanced student-teacher ratio, the neglected school structures have become breeding grounds for illegal activities.
Locals also expressed concern, saying these abandoned school buildings are now being exploited by anti-social elements.
They said these dilapidated school buildings should be transformed into libraries or allocated to other departments for community benefit.
“Government must hand over these abandoned buildings to other departments for the public good; otherwise, it is a waste of government money,” Ghulam Rasool Mir, a local resident said.
Chief Education Officer (CEO) Kulgam Mushtaq Ahmad Qadri acknowledged the existence of over 50 vacant buildings following the school amalgamation. He said some structures have already been taken over by government departments, while others remain unoccupied.
“We will address the issue,” Qadri said. He urged people to treat these buildings with care.
