Suhail Khan
Kashmir’s education system, long destabilized by conflict, now faces a new wave of disruptive policies. A recent government order to assume control of schools previously administered by Jamaat-e-Islami has sent a fresh jolt through the region, what becomes of the thousands of children caught in the middle?
Amid the persistent political turmoil in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the classroom has once again become a battleground. This order has ignited a fierce debate, with critics accusing both the ruling government and the opposition of exploiting the situation for political gain, effectively turning pedagogy into a proxy war.
Why are educational institutions so often the soft targets of political conflict? Children, who should be focused on building bright and successful futures, instead see the very foundation of their opportunity being systematically weakened.
Within the schools themselves, however, the response is more nuanced. The Web Story/The Varmul Post spoke with many teachers, educationists, and parents, who termed the move less as an interruption and more as a promise of continuity for securing the future of nearly 60,000 students.
Dr. Bashir Ahmad, a former professor of education at the University of Kashmir, characterized the decision as “a healing measure rather than a disruptive one.” He noted that children in the Valley have long borne the burden of uncertainty regarding the legal status of these institutions. “When a child walks into a classroom, he should not carry the anxiety of whether his school is recognized or not. This decision frees students from that invisible stress and protects them from a future where their hard work could have been dismissed on technical grounds,” he observed.
Educational experts widely agree that the essential elements of daily school life will remain unchanged for students and teachers. Classrooms, teaching staff, syllabi, and daily routines will continue uninterrupted. The primary changes, they indicate, will involve improved infrastructure, access to updated resources, and recognition under the National Education Policy. “This is not about reinventing the wheel. It is about oiling the existing one so it runs smoother,” stated Dr. Mehmooda Jan, an education policy analyst, emphasizing that the continuity of staff preserves critical teacher-student relationships.
Parents, who had previously feared for their children’s educational stability, have expressed reassurance following the government’s assurances.
Academics have also highlighted that the decision presents an opportunity to integrate community-rooted institutions into a broader, nationally recognized system without erasing their core identity. These schools had earned parental trust over decades for their discipline and teaching quality.
Experts believe the transition will allow the schools to operate without legal ambiguity while retaining the values that made them effective. “The essence of these schools—the close-knit environment, the personal attention to students—will remain untouched. What will be added are facilities like better libraries, teacher training, and digital tools, which will make them stronger,” noted education researcher Farooq Trali.
There is a consensus that the nearly 4,000 teachers employed by these institutions will benefit from the change. Their jobs are protected, and opportunities for professional development are expected to expand under government oversight. “This is a win-win for both teachers and students. Nobody loses, and everybody gains in terms of recognition and resources,” remarked Dr. Jan.
Officials explained that the takeover will be overseen by district authorities in coordination with the School Education Department. New managing committees will be established, with roles focused on administration rather than pedagogy.
A government order explicitly states that the academic careers of enrolled students must not be disrupted, a commitment that has further alleviated parental concerns.
A notable outcome of the move is the palpable sense of relief within the Valley’s educational sector. A situation that once seemed like a looming crisis for thousands of families has been reframed as an opportunity for growth. “When education becomes hostage to uncertainty, the greatest sufferers are children. This decision ensures their dreams will no longer hang in the balance. It is a positive course correction,” said educationist Abdul Rashid Rather.
Meanwhile, the decision has sparked heated debate in political circles across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, with opposition leaders criticizing the National Conference-led government.
Former Chief Minister and PDP President Mehbooba Mufti criticized the government’s recent action against Falah-e-Aam Trust (FAT) institutions, saying it was an “attack on Jammu and Kashmir’s educational system and cultural identity.”
Mehbooba said the takeover of nearly 215 FAT-run schools was “deeply unfortunate” as these institutions had maintained a rare balance between modern and Islamic education. “There are very few schools which provide regular education along with Islamic teachings. You cannot name any other school where such a balance is maintained. Thousands of students, teachers and families are connected with these institutions,” she said.
PDP chief recalled that similar crackdowns were earlier carried out against Jamaat-e-Islami and its assets. “I had hoped that an elected government in place would stop such assaults on our institutions and culture. Instead, the present dispensation has only facilitated them,” she remarked.
Mehbooba alleged that even Kashmiri language, literature and icons were being erased from curriculum. “Our Urdu is being pushed out of offices, while figures like Sheikh-ul-Alam, Allama Iqbal and Agha Shahid are being sidelined from our syllabus,” she said, accusing the government of remaining “complicit and silent.”
Peoples’ Conference chief and Handwara MLA Sajad Lone condemned the move. “Shame and shamelessness have assumed new meanings in this government,” he stated in a social media post. He asserted that the elected government was a willing party to the order and accused them of “setting new standards in servility,” recalling the party’s past criticisms of its opponents.
Another PDP leader, Pulwama MLA Waheed Para, argued that one of the major successes following the abrogation of Article 370 was the Jamaat-e-Islami’s participation in the 2024 electoral process—a transformation he said was achieved through democracy, not force. However, he described recent actions like school takeovers and book bans as “knee-jerk reactions” that suppress reintegration efforts. He urged the Government of India to provide space, uphold constitutional guarantees, and foster the democratic process in Jammu and Kashmir.
Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party chief Altaf Bukhari criticizing the government’s decision to take over the management of 215 schools run by the Falah-e-Aam Trust (FAT), following the enforcement of the ban on the organization.
In his statement, Bukhari noted that although Jamaat-e-Islami has been banned since 2019, previous administrations did not take control of the FAT schools. He said the current government’s action, despite having a public mandate, could have been avoided by opting for regulatory oversight instead of direct intervention.
He acknowledged that there may be political and ideological differences with Jamaat-e-Islami but maintained that FAT schools have had a consistent presence in the region’s education sector. He said the government’s decision could impact students and the broader education system.
Reacting to the situation, the education misniter Minister Sakina Itoo said that no one will be allowed to gamble with the future of children and condemned what she termed as “cheap politics” over schools associated with the FET network.
She said that false rumours were being spread about school closures. “People are being misled into thinking schools are shut. I personally visited many institutions on Saturday. They were open, running smoothly, and children were studying,” she said.
She added that since 2019, FET schools had no proper registration, management committees, or legal framework. To address this gap, the government had arranged temporary oversight until new committees are formed and CID verification is cleared.
“There are nearly 51,000 children whose future is at stake. Until management bodies are in place, the nearest principals will take care of the schools. The children will remain, the teachers will remain, and the structures will remain. Nobody is being displaced,” the minister said.
She also questioned the silence of opposition parties in the past. “In 2002, during their own rule, homes and schools linked to Jamaat-e-Islami were locked, children were dragged, and voices were silenced. Why didn’t they speak up then? Why are they suddenly concerned today?” she asked.
Calling the opposition’s narrative “frustration-driven lies,” she said: “We will not allow anyone to play politics with the future of our children. Neither have we ever done it, nor will we allow others to do it.”
Meanwhile, according to reports, teams of officials accompanied by police visited schools affiliated with the banned Jamaat-e-Islami across all ten districts of Kashmir as the government formally took over their management on Saturday.
Officials reported that the process was conducted “peacefully and smoothly” without disturbing student education.
The government order, issued on Friday, stated: “The managing committee of the 215 schools shall be taken over by the district magistrate/ deputy commissioner concerned who shall propose a fresh managing committee in due course for the concerned schools after getting these duly verified.”
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs had declared the JeI an unlawful association under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) on February 28, 2019, a ban that was extended on February 27, 2024.
The order cited that intelligence agencies had identified schools directly or indirectly affiliated with the proscribed organisation and that the validity of their managing committees had expired, with these panels having been “reported adversely” by the agencies.
