In a circular issued on Saturday, the Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) instructed school heads to ensure that schools wore a “festive” look ahead of their reopening on March 1 after winter vacation.

The DSEK emphasized that the occasion should be celebrated to create a welcoming atmosphere and encourage students to return to a positive and engaging learning environment.

In light of this directive, I took it upon myself to visit some schools, particularly middle and high, to see how well the “festive reopening” vision aligned with reality. What I saw was nothing short of alarming. Inside the very classrooms meant for learning, I found sheep and stray dogs taking shelter—right where students are supposed to sit and study.

In such conditions, the health and safety risks for students are unimaginable. Young children, exposed to animal waste and unhygienic surroundings, are at constant risk of bacterial infections, respiratory diseases, and parasitic infestations. The unchecked presence of stray dogs heightens the danger—one sudden attack, a rabid bite, and an entire classroom could be thrown into chaos.

How do you create a “welcoming ambience” in schools where children share space with livestock? Where broken windows let in the cold and rain?

The government’s own “Vision Document” published in 2023 indicated that nearly 5000 government schools, especially in remote and hilly areas, suffer from a lack of basic facilities, including proper classrooms, heating arrangements, sanitation, and adequate teaching resources.

Senior officials, particularly those at the ranks of Secretary and Director of Education, often focus their attention on select schools within city limits—institutions they frequently visit. As a result, these schools receive disproportionate attention, while those in remote and underprivileged areas remain summarily neglected.

School heads in these “well-monitored” institutions ensure their campuses........

© Kashmir Observer