✒️:.Dr. Talat Majid
Once again, PDP and NC are locked in a blame game over the banning of Falah-e-Aam Trust schools. Each side accuses the other of political vendetta, but in this tug-of-war, the real sufferers are the students. Tens of thousands of children, who only seek a future through education, are caught in uncertainty while political parties try to score points. Education cannot—and must not—be held hostage to politics. What Kashmir needs is not mudslinging between parties but a clear, transparent policy from the government. The issue should be addressed with reforms, not rhetoric.
First, the government must clarify whether these schools will be regularized, restructured, or merged into the mainstream system. Prolonged ambiguity only damages the credibility of education.
Second, while their curriculum is aligned with NCERT/JKBOSE standards, there should still be space for moral and religious studies that do not clash with constitutional values. Equally crucial is accountability in management and funding. Independent audits, transparent boards, and the involvement of educators and parents in school governance can help build trust. Alongside this, teachers must be trained and certified to raise academic standards.
Above all, students must not carry any stigma. They deserve to be treated as equals. Political parties may continue their blame games, but the government has a responsibility to rise above politics and ensure that every Kashmiri child receives unconditional, quality education. If handled wisely, Falah-e-Aam Trust schools can be reformed into assets for society rather than liabilities. Education is too sacred to be reduced to the battlefield of PDP-NC rivalry. The future of Kashmir lies not in rhetoric, but in classrooms.