1330 schools in JK with 31,000 enrolment run by ‘single teachers’

Srinagar, Jan 20 (KNO): In Jammu and Kashmir more than 31,000 students are enrolled in those schools that function with a single teacher posted or deployed—thus raising a question on quality of the education in educational institutes.

The updated official figures reveal that In Jammu and Kashmir, ‘31,054 students were enrolled’ in those educational institutes wherein only one teacher was posted or deployed.

According to the recent official figures, more than 1300 schools in Jammu and Kashmir were those institutes that were functioning with only a single teacher.

The news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) has learnt that “At least 1330 schools in Jammu and Kashmir were functioning with single teachers.”

Principal Secretary, School Education Department was not available to comment on the issue. Besides, Project Director of Jammu and Kashmir Samagra Shiksha could not answer the repeated calls from KNO.

President of Private School Association of Jammu and Kashmir (PSAJK) G N Var informed KNO that “In more than 5400 private schools in Jammu and Kashmir, we have a Pupil Teacher Ratio of 1:20. Besides, in every school, we have a minimum of seven teachers in each private school.”

On asking about the closure of any private schools owing to low or zero student enrolment, Var said, “Right from the very inception, not even a single private school has remained with zero student enrolment. However, because of government restriction, intimidation and harassment by way of imposing filing of NOCs and other documents, some private schools may have got closed due to the government restriction.”

On Saturday, KNO reported that the updated official figures reveal that in Jammu and Kashmir, at least 119 schools were functioning in the region with no student enrolled in the institution.

The figures have revealed that at least 238 teachers were posted or deployed in the schools wherein no student was enrolled.

It also states that on an average at least seven teachers were posted or deployed in schools of Jammu and Kashmir.

In 2024, KNO first broke the news of closure of over 4400 government run schools owing to ‘zero or extremely low’ enrollment of students.

In July-2024, the news agency reported that there were a total of 23,117 government run schools in Jammu and Kashmir out of which 4394 have been deleted from the UDISE data—(KNO)

Loaded Trucks or Empty Hands?: JKBOSE Chairman rebuts education minister on dearth of textbooks

BOSE chairman Says, ‘There is no shortage of textbooks, every day I receive trucks loaded with textbooks in Srinagar; Textbooks worth crores distributed within the past one Week’

Srinagar, Jan 20 (JKNS): The Chairman JK Board of School Education on monday rebutted the minister for education over non availability of textbooks in the market, saying the board has successfully distributed textbooks worth crores.

In an exclusive interview with news agency JKNS, chairman JKBOSE Prof. Parikshat Singh Manhas said the distribution of textbooks was already in process.

The statement from JKBOSE Chairman comes a few days after education minister Sakina Masood Itoo acknowledged the dearth of textbooks saying that the students will receive textbooks by the end of winter vacation.

The Director School Education Kashmir also said that textbooks were expected to be available by January 31 of 2025.

However, the JKBOSE chairman claimed that distribution of textbooks was going on smoothly.

He further dismissed allegations of shortage of textbooks.

“The board is always here to serve our children. Every day, loaded trucks carrying textbooks reach Srinagar. There is no shortage,” he said.

He said for the past one week, textbooks worth approximately Rs. 3 crore have been distributed, including Rs. 15 lakhs on a single day.

“If there are issues, let book sellers approach me, but I believe students have books in their hands,” he said.

He said that students from Class 1st to 8th get textbooks free of cost. “They need to show their Below Poverty Line (BPL) ration cards to avail this benefit,” he said.

Reacting to the complaints about the shortage of textbooks, JKBOSE chairman said: “I don’t know who says there is a shortage of books when I receive loaded trucks of textbooks every day.”

However, contrary to the claims of the JKBOSE Chairman, Parents and teachers are expressing frustration over the non availability of books.

JKNS correspondent tried to reach out to multiple school heads in Srinagar, Kulgam and Budgam. One of the teachers from Govt High School Kulgam said, “We haven’t received textbooks so far. However, we have been told to wait for another week.”

One of the parents from Budgam namely Mir Muzzafar told news agency JKNS that their children were sitting idle. “It is a vacation period, but they should have been given books, so that they will keep track of their studies. Unfortunately, books are not available,” he said.

A teacher from a primary school in Budgam said they have not received books from the Board. “Despite repeated requests, we are being told to wait. It seems textbooks will be available by the end of February when schools reopen post winter vacation,” a teacher said, wishing anonymity.

Another parent from Kulgam, Muneeb Nazeer, said the textbooks were not available anywhere.

“One month has passed and children must have books, so that they will study in a better way till schools reopen. But I do not understand why JKBOSE didn’t stock books earlier before exams,” he said. (JKNS)