Enrollment Push Gains Momentum, But Upgrade Freeze Raises Concerns in J&K Schools
From door-to-door drives to free education incentives, Govt steps up outreach—yet no immediate plan for school upgradation leaves border areas waiting
Our Special Correspondent
Srinagar: Amid growing concerns over declining student enrolment, the Jammu and Kashmir government has rolled out a series of targeted interventions aimed at bringing children back to classrooms and ensuring universal access to education at the highest level. However, even as enrolment figures show marginal improvement, the absence of a concrete plan to upgrade schools—particularly in border areas—has sparked fresh debate.
Replying to a query raised by Dr. Devinder Kumar Manyal, the School Education Department outlined a multi-pronged strategy focused on access, incentives and inclusion.
At the heart of this effort are annual enrolment drives conducted by the Directorates of School Education Jammu and Kashmir, complemented by door-to-door surveys to identify out-of-school children. These children are then mainstreamed through direct enrolment, ensuring that no child is left behind.
Recognizing the unique challenges faced by nomadic communities, the government has established seasonal education centres for tribal migratory populations. These centres aim to prevent learning disruption during migration cycles—a key step toward inclusive education.
To ease the financial burden on families, the government is providing free uniforms and textbooks to nearly 8 lakh students. Additionally, under the PM POSHAN scheme, mid-day meals are being served to children from pre-primary to Class 8, enhancing both nutrition and school attendance.
Early childhood education has also received a boost, with pre-primary sections now operational in 15,550 government schools. This has translated into a modest rise in enrolment—from 1.80 lakh in 2023–24 to 1.85 lakh in 2024–25—signaling a positive trend at the foundational level.
For girls, the Beti Anmol scheme continues to act as a crucial incentive, offering scholarships to encourage continued education up to the senior secondary level.
On infrastructure, the government clarified that school buildings and land left vacant due to the merger or “clubbing” of institutions have been handed over to district administrations for alternative use by other departments.
However, a key concern remains unresolved. The department stated that there is currently no proposal to upgrade schools to higher levels—from primary to middle, middle to high, or high to higher secondary—even in border areas. The focus, officials said, remains on strengthening infrastructure and staffing in already upgraded schools.
That said, some targeted interventions are underway. Under the Vibrant Village Programme (VVP-II), nine schools in border villages of Samba district have been identified for infrastructure enhancement. These include institutions across zones like Samba, Ghagwal, and Ramgarh, covering primary to middle-level schools, including girls’ institutions.
While these initiatives reflect a strong administrative push to improve access and retention, the lack of a parallel roadmap for school upgradation raises questions about long-term academic progression for students, especially in remote and border regions.
As the government works to bring every child into the education fold, the next challenge lies in ensuring that those who enter the system have a clear and continuous pathway to advance within it.
