SRINAGAR: The School Education Department in the Kashmir zone manages 150 schools in Southern districts of Kashmir from rented accommodations due to the absence of proper school buildings.
Officials said that there are a total of 3622 schools in the entire South Kashmir range, with Anantnag district holding the highest number of schools in operation in the Southern districts of Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama, and Shopian.
“There are 1537 government schools in Anantnag district, 773 in Kulgam, 892 in Pulwama, and 520 in the Shopian district,” the figures state. Additionally, “Out of the total 3622 schools in South Kashmir, 150 schools are still operating in rented accommodations. Fourteen (14) schools are in Shopian, 79 in Anantnag district, 20 in Kulgam, and 35 in the Pulwama district.”
An official, wishing not to be named, mentioned that many rented schools lack essential facilities, hindering students from participating in extracurricular activities.
He pointed out that the rented buildings often have broken windows, damaged roofs, and worn-out walls, leaving students without basic amenities and advanced resources like laboratories.
“The lack of government property status for these buildings prevents the provision of necessary facilities by the education department,” the official said.
The Government Primary School at Banipath Kanchloo area of Kund in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district operates in a rented space with six classes.
“Despite being a decade-old establishment with a previously damaged building, it now functions from a single room. Labourers facing economic challenges have no choice but to send their children there, as we can’t afford private schools,” said Muhammad Iqbal, a local resident.
He mentioned that the owner of the rented space has not received any rent for 13 years.
Talking to KNO, a senior officer at DSEK said that efforts are underway to provide schools with their own buildings instead of relying on rentals.
He stated that only schools with limited enrollment and no available land are currently in rented spaces. The officer assured that the department is aware of the situation, actively making land available, and soon constructing new buildings for these schools to ensure they are well-equipped with basic facilities.
Repeated attempts to reach out to the Director of School Education, Kashmir, Tassaduq Hussain, didn’t fructify. (KNO)
