Enrolment in govt schools continues downslide
Srinagar: Bellying the tall claims of the state government to increase the enrollment in government educational institutions across valley, the oldest schools established by the department are witnessed decrease in the enrollment while as dozens are at the verge of closure in different districts.
Over the past two years, around a dozen of government schools have been closed due to drastic decrease in the enrollment of students while as the student population in other schools is also witnessing a downward trend.
The empty school buildings which have been left abandoned over the years have been left in shambles with no watch and ward from the department put in place. The infrastructure worth crores has gone waste with the closure of the schools.
For example, two single-storey buildings on Srinagar-Baramulla highway stands abandoned and the doors and windows of the buildings have been pulled out by miscreants. The school was established in 1972 and was one of the oldest primary schools in the Sopore zone.
“The school has earned a good reputation given its huge enrollment in past years, but in past few years the student population dwindled in the school prompting authorities to close it at the location,” said an official of the department.
“The teachers who were running the school were shifted to a nearby school. The school was not clubbed under rationalisation policy in 2015 as it had a good enrollment but in past two years the enrollment was reduced to zero,” the official added.
Notably, this is not the only school which has been closed down owing to downslide in the enrollment. There are dozens of such schools which have met the same fate in past two years.
Government primary school Haigam was closed by authorities after enrollment of the school decreased to zero. Another school in Kupwara district is also at the verge of closure as the enrollment of this middle school has been gradually showing a decrease.
“The school used to have more than 200 students on its rolls. The number has now come down to 20. There are hundreds of such schools at primary and elementary level where enrollment has gone down in past few years,” an official said.
The newly appointed Director School Education Muhammad Younis Malik said the issue will be looked into.
“I will convene a meeting with all CEOs and the issue of decreasing enrollment will be discussed. Our efforts are on to increase the enrolment in our schools,” he said.
KV Correspondent
