Peerzada Ummer
Srinagar, Aug 22: The condition of government schools across Rajouri district has reached an alarming low, as efforts at the government level to improve education quality have largely failed to yield results.
Reports and testimonies from residents highlight a grim reality: most schools in the district not only suffer from an acute shortage of teachers but also lack even the most basic facilities, undermining the very purpose of education.
Across various areas and hamlets, government-run schools are plagued by severe infrastructural deficiencies. Students are forced to study without access to essential amenities such as playgrounds, toilets, electricity, and proper sanitation. These shortcomings present significant obstacles to the learning process, especially for young children. In primary and middle schools, the situation is particularly dire, with inadequate infrastructure forcing multiple classes to be crammed into a single room. This not only hampers the teaching process but also reflects the broader challenges faced by the education department at the grassroots level.
The consequences of these deficiencies are serious and far-reaching. In many remote areas, the absence of sufficient teachers has left local communities deeply concerned about their children’s futures. In some schools, a single teacher is left to manage both primary and middle classes, resulting in a compromised learning environment and increased difficulties for students. Alarmingly, several schools have roofs and walls that are on the verge of collapse, while some are functioning without a roof altogether.
A stark example of the ongoing crisis can be found in the Kotranka subdivision, where the Government Primary School Taran has remained closed for over a decade. Despite being built at a cost of lakhs of rupees, the building has reportedly been locked by a local family due to a long-standing dispute. Local residents claim to have submitted dozens of complaints to the education department, but their appeals have gone unanswered for nearly 15 years. As a result, the school is currently operated out of a rented house, which is grossly inadequate, students attend class and are served meals in the same cramped room.
The residents emphasize that they have repeatedly raised the issue with the education department, both verbally and in writing, but no official has made any serious attempt to resolve the dispute or reopen the school building. Meanwhile, the locked school premises have been converted into a storeroom by the family involved in the dispute.
Community members warn that unless the dispute is resolved and the school building is reopened within the coming weeks, they are prepared to launch a widespread protest. They criticize the ongoing waste of public funds, as rent continues to be paid for substandard facilities while a purpose-built school lies unused. “If officers lack the courage to enforce the law, how can the education of children in remote areas be safeguarded?” one resident questioned, voicing a concern shared by many.
Locals stressed that this is not just an isolated issue; it is a matter of justice, governance, and the future of Rajouri’s children. They urged the authorities to take prompt and decisive action to resolve the crisis and restore proper educational facilities in the district.
