Education taking a hit in Kashmir
Be it political disturbances or Covid scare, students are facing the brunt
Shahid Amin
University students are facing numerous difficulties, not only with regard to independent life, but also with regard to academic obstacles, such as studying and understanding subject-specific information to receive their degree or the socio-economic implications of entering a new environment.
This predisposes them to depression, anxiety and stress that are relatively common and an increase in depression is sweeping university students of valley as well. But the rise in depression among university students of Kashmir is not focused solely on these evidences. Academic oppression, fee hike, delayed degrees, postponed exams, insurrection, and continuous lockdowns are the key reasons for this.
The disruptions in the valley and impact of it on the education sector over the previous many years have negatively impacted students and their desire to learn. Students are additionally unable to attend lessons, exams and assessments.
In 2016 class work in Universities and associated colleges in Kashmir was only carried out for the year solely for a whole of five months, ensuing in delayed examinations and students of higher education nearly lost the academic year of 2016.
This inevitable loss of academic year resulted in worse impact on university student’s future prospectus in terms of jobs and income. The extent of damage is detrimental to future of entire generation. Not solely the universities but the professional schools of Kashmir used to be additionally badly affected by way of the scenario.
After the normalization of the state of affairs the classwork resumed in university and associate colleges after the lockdown of nearly six months in 2017. But things did not go well as planned. In April 2017 the conflict started out once more when Pulwama Degree College made headlines as students faced the wrath of some security men.
The incident led to massive protests and violence by the student’s community. This violence galvanized university campuses across the valley and the Kashmir university students associations called for a protest in all colleges and universities in solidarity with the students of Pulwama College.
Amid apprehension that the security situations might flare up again colleges and universities were closed, although the instructions in the colleges had been interrupted repeatedly since the April 2017 amid the parliament elections for Srinagar –Budgam constituency.
After this some torture video went viral and government responded repeatedly ordering education institutions particularly colleges to remain closed as a precautionary measure and again Kashmir’s uncertain political and security situation had taken a toll on Kashmir’s education system.
At the time, I myself was a Kashmir University UG-student of batch 2015 and severely affected by way of the scenario as our admission was already delayed after the floods in 2014.
Then we had to endure the brunt of the worst security situation, ensuing in more holidays than college’s actual working days. These political and security situations lead to signs of melancholy amongst students, forcing many UG and PG students to cancel their admissions in universities and schools of Kashmir and get enrolled in universities outside the State and some stayed back with a hope of finishing the degree on time with new administrative strategies.
In 2018 batch 2015 completed the graduation in AUG 2018 after four years and had been left with no choice at the time without appearing in the PG entrance examinations of valley universities. At the same time university failed to take the backlog examinations of preceding semesters of the said batch which resulted in every other academic year loss to some college students and again the university’s failed academic calendar created fear, depression, sullenness, boredom and melancholy among the students.
The students were concerned that their desire of making it big in the world was ruined. The UG batch of 2016 finished their degree this year after four and half of years and batch 2017 are now in their 5th semester. University administration and higher education department on all these occasions scheduled short term strategies to address the issues of students.
In August 2019 the government of India abolished article 370. This move necessitated an extended lockdown that too with complete ban on communications including cellular networks and other mediums.
Under the unlucky lockdown and limitations imposed by the government in Kashmir thousands of university students got stuck in Kashmir University and had to be evacuated on the night time of 5 August.
During the lockdown the matter of concern for students was internet and communication blockade which according to the reports was the longest communication blackout in any democracy of the world. Projects, seminars, placement applications to universities for higher studies all the processes came to a grinding halt. Later messaging and call service were restored in October, while the limited and restricted internet was restored in January 2020.
Finally, after a long gap classwork at universities and colleges resumed but no immediate measures and arrangements were taken for the welfare of student and the batch PG 2018 and 2019, UG batches failed to appear in exam till date. As we know PG is a 2 year course but batch 2018 is still waiting to complete the 2nd semester which implies they have completed one semester in 2 years and batch 2019 has not yet appeared in 1st semester exam which means no semester in 1 year.
After this many students became the victims of depression and negative thoughts which are positive in another way and they left their courses and started working in private sectors or helping their parents to overcome from the socio-economic crises.
In March 2020 the university commenced making arrangements for exam and framed tutorial calendar which gave a short time period alleviation to students and after some days the covid-19 outbreak happed in India.
Covid-19 has put the world under siege and affected the enterprise and education as well. Amid this covid scare, JK administration on 11 march ordered the closure of all tutorial institutions, which includes schools and universities.
With the prolonged lockdown universities, colleges have been advised to take on-line lessons, seminars, viva etc. Digitally expert college students are additionally going for on line studying with gorgeous pleasure. Digital mastering has considerably facilitated the issue of expertise acquisition. From Skype to zoom the college students and instructors are using all kinds of digital systems to save a valuable academic year and proceed with research albeit remotely.
But in Kashmir the state of affairs is now not equal as high speed net is nonetheless barred in Kashmir. Students find it challenging to take on line classes. Already the previous several years and unrests had an unfavorable impact on students and their capacity to research and now analyzing on low speed net with blurred board and noisy voice creates confusion, chaos, concern and despair amongst the students.
This will further create the intellectual sickness observed by means of sad, nervous, hopeless and anxious feeling amongst university students of Kashmir. But this time the solution must be formal likewise there should be some improvement in the digital infrastructure which can help the students in future as well.
