Becoming a Scapegoat

In recent times, private schools in Jammu and Kashmir have increasingly become victims of misunderstanding, and mostly originating from shortcomings of government officials in the education department. This disturbing trend is manifested in several incidents that highlight a systemic failure to address the real issues plaguing our education system.

One such incident occurred in north Kashmir, where a private school was issued a notice for stopping a child's transport services due to non-payment of transport fees. The same parent had failed to pay tuition and transport fees for the past six months. Rather than verifying the parent's claim, the education officer swiftly issued a notice to the school. This school, a beacon of learning with modern infrastructure and highly professional staff, clarified that it had only stopped transport services, not the child's education, and had taken this step after numerous attempts to communicate with the parent. Shockingly, the parent in question is a government employee who receives child allowance and a substantial salary. Despite these facts, government officials did not investigate  the matter and instead held the school accountable.

Another troubling instance involves an education officer in Sopore who issued a statement against a school based on an unverified complaint about school buses allegedly speeding beyond the prescribed limit. The school, which uses governor meters to ensure buses do not exceed 40 km/h, invited the department to verify their compliance. Yet, without any investigation, the officer issued a notice to the school and disseminated it to all heads of government schools, causing undue embarrassment and disruption.

These incidents are not isolated. Private schools in Jammu and Kashmir play a crucial role in shaping the educational landscape. Even children of government employees are mostly enrolled in top-ranking private schools, which speaks volumes about the trust placed in these institutions. Despite this, private schools are frequently targeted over issues like capitation fees, annual charges, fee hikes, and transport charges. And it seems that this misplaced focus diverts attention from the pressing need to improve the quality of education in government schools.

Instead of scrutinizing private schools over minor issues, the government should prioritize enhancing the quality of education. This includes ensuring proper infrastructure, paying staff adequately and on time, maintaining HR standards, and fostering an environment that supports students' mental health. Additionally, the government should address the problem of parents who default on payments and switch schools without settling dues, making the previous school suffer a monitory loss.

The hypocrisy and corruption within the education department further aggravate the situation. Clerks and office assistants in government offices often delay paperwork until they receive bribes, under the guise of streamlining private school operations. This rampant corruption is a severe hindrance to the educational system's smooth functioning.

It is high time the government stops using private schools as scapegoats to mask its incompetence. By focusing on substantive issues and fostering a collaborative environment with private educational institutions, we can work towards a more equitable and high-quality education system for all.

If we are to truly advance the cause of education in Jammu and Kashmir, we must address the root causes of these systemic issues and support all schools—both government and private—in their mission to provide the best possible education to our children.

By Andleeb Qureshi is an educator.