New academic session opens to old problems in Kashmir’s schools

Srinagar, Nov 2: As the new academic session began in schools across Kashmir on Saturday, attention has once again turned to the poor infrastructure in many government institutions—particularly at the primary and middle school levels—posing a serious challenge to smooth functioning as winter approaches.

The new session follows the culmination of the summative assessments for junior classes. However, the start of classes has revived long-standing concerns over inadequate classrooms, heating facilities, and basic amenities in thousands of schools across the Valley.

Officials admit that despite several reformative initiatives and central schemes, the lack of infrastructure remains a persistent problem, especially in the harsh winter months.

“The infrastructural gaps persist throughout the year,” said an education department official. “In summer, classes can be held in the open, but in winter there is no option—students shiver inside classrooms without proper heating or insulation.”

In many schools, especially in rural areas, multiple classes continue to share a single room due to space constraints. The issue is compounded by rising enrolment in government schools, where private education options remain limited.

“The dependence on government schools in rural areas is increasing, but the facilities have not kept pace,” the official said, adding that successive governments have failed to address even basic infrastructure needs.

Teachers say the lack of heating and classroom space often forces the government to announce early winter vacations for younger classes.

“It becomes difficult to justify the situation to parents who see their children sitting in freezing classrooms,” said a teacher from south Kashmir. “They don’t care about policy—what they see is their children suffering.”

Minister for Education, Sakina Itoo, acknowledged the shortcomings, admitting that funds meant for improving school infrastructure under the Samagra Shiksha scheme had remained underutilised in recent years.

“There has been poor utilisation of funds,” she told Greater Kashmir. “We are trying to address this step by step. It can’t be fixed overnight, but we’re working to strengthen infrastructure and provide better facilities to students.”

Meanwhile, schools are also grappling with delays in the supply of new textbooks. Teachers have begun circulating used books from senior students to juniors as a temporary arrangement.

Secretary, J&K Board of School Education (JKBOSE), Ghulam Hassan Sheikh, said the distribution of fresh textbooks would be completed before the onset of winter vacations.

“Textbooks will reach schools well before the winter break,” Sheikh said.

As temperatures begin to drop, the condition of government schools—many still lacking heating, furniture, and adequate classrooms—remains a test of the administration’s commitment to strengthening the education system in Kashmir.