Opinion | Revitalizing Education: Post-Abrogation Transformations in JKUT

Kashmir has great potential in education. In the past few years, we have witnessed our students’ achieving laurels in various competitive examinations and making progress both within and outside the nation. Gone are the days when these students were used for stone pelting and unrest, which ultimately damaged our lives and prosperity. Today, our students are mature enough to discern fake sympathizers and opportunists. This transformation can be attributed to the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A, which has restored normalcy and focused on the dilapidated education system in Kashmir. Progress in any sphere requires peace, and violence disrupts progress. This is what the abrogation has brought—peace, which has made everything possible and allowed schools and students to return to their rightful places.

Having an effect on all aspects of life, the post-abrogation period has improved the educational standards in Kashmir by making education facilities available, which were previously restricted due to the barrier of Article 370. Dr. Anupama Watkar, Assistant Professor in the Department of English at Sarhad College of Arts, Commerce, and Science in Katraj, Pune, has drafted a detailed analysis on the abrogation of Article 370. She states, “The abrogation of Article 370 may lead to a review of educational and employment opportunities. Cross-border terrorism was a significant cause of instability, in addition to other internal conflicts that the region had experienced. It acted as a catalyst, evoking mixed responses. Education alone can serve as a catalyst to transform the youth and lift them out of despondency. It is hoped that the annulment of Article 370 will be a promising step towards witnessing the revival of educational policies in Jammu and Kashmir.
Jammu and Kashmir is considered as an educational backward state which has so many reasons, one of the important reasons was terrorism, violence and shutdown of the schools and misuse of students. The thirty years violence ultimately damage our educational system. The activities related to education like sports, culture and academic workshops were not given full wings due to the violence erupted by the agents of different groups. The integration of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the country has enhanced not only educational opportunities but also on the other important sectors.
New Education Opportunities post abrogation: The abrogation brought education stability and a wide scope for improvement. The government has taken a slew of measures to enhance the quality of education in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370. In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Education, Annapurna Devi, stated that the J&K State Council of Educational Research and Training has been established, and 835 vocational labs have been set up to provide vocational education. She added that 993 ICT labs have been established under the digital initiative, and free winter tutorials were conducted for students in classes 8th to 12th.
The Minister also mentioned that 17 thousand eco-clubs have been formed in schools with student involvement. Furthermore, construction work on 20 Girls Hostels and 52 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas has been completed at a cost of 94.29 crore rupees. Apart from providing financial support, significant steps have been taken to increase access to educational courses. More than 300 courses have been added to the decade-old course list, which previously consisted of only 50 courses. Even lodging facilities have been improved for transhumant children by approving the construction of about 30 hostels in the next few years, compared to the existing 25 hostels that have been in place since independence. (Source, Internet). Much different was implementing NEP and availing benefits of UT in Education.
Therefore, the focus has largely been on making education as accessible as possible. The government has provided micro-laptops, tablets, and mini desktops loaded with pre-recorded lectures and other educational content to the residents of these hostels, enabling them to pursue their courses regardless of the situation outside.
In addition to the Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory (JKUT) government, the Army has also taken steps to provide new educational facilities and scholarships in the region. The Army, through its Goodwill Mission, has established hundreds of quality schools in Kashmir and is actively facilitating scholarships for students.
Recently, they have made use of the JKSSS (Jammu and Kashmir Student Support Scheme) to send students outside the state for various technical and non-technical courses. Ultimately, the most important objective of the abrogation was to maintain peace, restore education, and offer opportunities for students through different scholarships outside the state.

– The writer can be reached at vadaiekashmir@gmail.com