Headless schools in Anantnag takes toll on academics

Srinagar, Mar 24: At least 71 schools of south Kashmir’s Anantnag are reeling without headmasters and principals—thus raising a question on functioning of the department in the district
An RTI filed by the National Convenor of the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association, Nasir Khuehami, has revealed a deeply unsettling reality—schools operating without leadership and an administration that has abdicated its responsibilities, leaving thousands of students in distress.
The Public Information Officer (PIO) in a reply to RTI has revealed that 59 schools in district Anantnag are operating without Headmasters, while 12 higher secondary schools have no Principals.
It also states that at least 26 Headmasters have been assigned additional charges, and the role of Principal in these higher secondary schools is being handled as an additional assignment by officers of equivalent rank.
The PIO further mentioned that among the 48 higher secondary schools in the district, only five have full-time Principals, while 14 are managed by in-charge Principals, and 29 are being overseen by look after Principals.
The RTI further states that 376 lecturer positions are currently vacant in the district, with critical subjects including Urdu with 48 vacancies, English with 47, Education with 34, Political Science with 27, Physics with 24, History with 20, Mathematics with 22, Chemistry with 21, and Economics subject with 17 facing vacancies respectively.
In the meantime, the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association National Convenor Nasir Khuehami has urged the government to take immediate corrective measures to address the crisis. The association emphasized the urgent need to fill vacant positions, appoint full-time school heads, and ensure structured academic governance to prevent a further decline in education standards.
“If urgent steps are not taken to fill these vacancies and streamline administrative responsibilities, the students of Anantnag will continue to suffer from an education system that is failing them at every level,” Khuehami said.
He urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to intervene and restore normalcy in Anantnag’s education sector before it is too late. (KNO)