Opinion | J&K Towards becoming an education Hub

J&K’s goal to become an educational hub is not a dream anymore—it is a journey well underway. From new universities to border village smart schools, from skill development to cutting-edge research, the transformation is visible.

Historically, education in Jammu and Kashmir faced challenges—geographic remoteness, political uncertainty, and infrastructural gaps. But post-2019, the region entered a new phase of administrative focus and investment in education. The reorganization of J&K into a Union Territory brought fresh policy momentum. The government’s first priority was basic infrastructure. Between 2020 and 2023, over 1,500 schools across J&K were upgraded, with modern classrooms, libraries, and smart boards.
Crucially, under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, thousands of out-of-school children were identified and re-integrated into the mainstream. Special attention was given to girl education and tribal students, with free textbooks, uniforms, and bicycles distributed in remote belts like Gurez, Keran, and Poonch.
Higher Education: From Access to Excellence
Higher education was once a luxury in remote districts. But that changed with the establishment of new degree colleges, including 50 government colleges sanctioned post-2019, in areas that never had one before—places like Zainapora, Tangdhar, and Uri.
The Cluster University of Jammu and Srinagar became nerve centers of regional academic advancement. New courses in artificial intelligence, bioinformatics, and environmental science were introduced, aligning curricula with national standards.
A new Education City has been proposed in Jammu, modeled on international academic zones, with land already identified. Private institutions like Delhi Public School, Birla Open Minds, and International Delhi School have opened branches across the UT, raising the standard of school education.
Skill Development: Beyond the Blackboards
Realizing that degrees alone cannot guarantee employment, the administration pushed for skill-based education. Skill Development Institutes, like the one in Bemina run by activist Shazia Mushtaq, are now training hundreds in tailoring, graphic design, electric work, and digital marketing.
The Polytechnic Colleges of Srinagar, Anantnag, and Baramulla were revamped with new labs, and the ITI (Industrial Training Institutes) in 12 districts got upgraded to align with the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF). The focus is clear: create job-ready youth.
The Mission Youth initiative, launched by the J&K government, integrated skill development with entrepreneurship. Through this, thousands of young boys and girls were trained in high-demand skills and provided seed funding to start their ventures—from bakery units in Shopian to e-commerce outlets in Rajouri.
Digital Education: Breaking Barriers
If any lesson was loud and clear from the COVID-19 pandemic, it was that education must go digital. Jammu and Kashmir’s response was swift. The DigiNest platform was launched to provide curated online content for classes 1 to 12. Smart classrooms and computer labs were created in over 7,000 government schools. The ‘Aao School Chalein’ campaign, a door-to-door initiative to bring children back to school, was a resounding success, especially in hilly and conflict-prone regions.
In higher education, e-content production studios were set up at both Cluster Universities. These studios allowed local faculty to produce lectures in Urdu, Kashmiri, Dogri, and English, making higher education inclusive.
Bringing the World to Kashmir: NEP 2020 in Action
One of the biggest shifts came with the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. J&K was among the first UTs to roll it out in both letter and spirit. From multidisciplinary education to holistic report cards, from vocational integration to teacher training, NEP’s tenets were adopted through a phased strategy.
Over 30,000 teachers were trained under NISHTHA, India’s largest teacher training program. The DIET (District Institutes of Education and Training) centres saw a revamp, becoming the driving force for pedagogical reform.
Interestingly, NEP’s focus on local language and culture found special resonance in Kashmir, where folk stories, poetry, and heritage modules were integrated into the curriculum. Students were encouraged to document the oral history of their villages, interview elders, and preserve the cultural fabric.
International Collaboration and Research Boost
J&K is now opening doors for global academic partnerships. The University of Kashmir signed MOUs with institutions in Central Asia and the Middle East to boost research collaboration in climate change, glaciology, and public health. Jammu University’s Department of Strategic and Regional Studies began offering courses focused on border studies and regional geopolitics—making it one of the first such programs in the country.
Research funding also increased. The JKSTIC (J&K Science, Technology & Innovation Council) invited hundreds of research proposals, funding innovations in agriculture, waste management, and IT. This gave birth to student-led startups like “Herbal Hills” and “EcoKash.”
Inclusive and Equitable Education
It would be unjust to ignore the work being done for students with special needs. The Inclusive Education Cell now ensures that every school has at least one resource person trained in special education. Braille books, assistive technology, and speech therapy tools have been distributed to thousands of students.
Moreover, tribal students were brought under a focused strategy. EMRS (Eklavya Model Residential Schools) now operate in areas like Kulgam and Kupwara, offering tribal children access to quality English-medium education with hostel facilities.
The Road Ahead
J&K’s goal to become an educational hub is not a dream anymore—it is a journey well underway. From new universities to border village smart schools, from skill development to cutting-edge research, the transformation is visible. This is not just about buildings and budgets; it’s about mindset and momentum.
As we move into 2025, the government aims to make every district a ‘knowledge district’, with at least one centre of excellence, a smart school cluster, and one skill innovation hub. With ongoing efforts and community participation, the young minds of J&K are no longer waiting for opportunities—they are creating them.
And perhaps that is the most powerful testament to this journey: a student in Handwara coding an app; a girl in Reasi learning robotics; a teacher in Gurez streaming lessons to children cut off by snow. These are not isolated stories. These are signs of a larger revolution—a revolution of hope, resilience, and knowledge.
Writer can be reached on : syedjahanzeeb2@gmail.com