By Ikkz Ikbal

The education system in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) is in a state of crisis, with numerous challenges undermining its effectiveness. Among these challenges, the failure of flagship programmes like the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) highlights the systemic inefficiencies that plague the region’s educational infrastructure.

The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan also appears to be a vision which is now derailed. Launched with the vision to provide free and compulsory education to children aged 6 to 14 years, the SSA aimed to bridge educational gaps by establishing schools in far-off areas of J&K. Since its inception in the early 2000s, the programme led to the establishment of 18,021 schools across the region, including 10,690 primary schools and 7,331 upper primary schools. This effort raised the total number of government-run schools in J&K to 23,117.

However, the scheme’s execution was marred by haphazard planning and poor management, leading to the closure of 24% of these schools, primarily due to zero or minimal enrollment. As per updated official figures, at least 119 schools in J&K were operating without a single student enrolled. Shockingly, 238 teachers were still posted in these schools, effectively drawing salaries despite no active........

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