SRINAGAR: Thousands of government schools in Jammu and Kashmir are facing an unprecedented crisis of empty classrooms, with new data revealing a sharp fall in student enrollment across the region. This is happening in a region which recorded 82 percent literacy rate for age seven years and above compared national average of 80.9 percent, as per the latest estimates presented in Indian parliament in July 2025.
According to official figures, 119 schools currently have zero student enrollment, while 16,179 schools have fewer than 50 students each. At the same time, 848 schools recorded no new enrollments this year, raising serious questions about the future of public education network in the Union Territory.
In recent years, authorities have already shut down or merged nearly 4,400 schools to rationalize resources. The number of primary schools has also fallen drastically from 12,977 to just 8,966, marking a cut of more than 30 percent.
A deepening education crisis
Experts say these numbers point to a deep-rooted crisis in J&K’s education system. The decline is being attributed to multiple factors: migration of families, lack of basic infrastructure in government schools, shortage of teaching staff, socio-political instability, and a growing shift among parents toward private institutions, which are often seen as offering better facilities and quality of education.
“In J&K, many schools have been built, but many of them have very few or no students. The government has a responsibility to use public money wisely and ensure that children receive a good and quality education. Authorities need to figure out why schools are lying empty and why parents prefer private schools. The main reasons are the lack of basic facilities, poor infrastructure in government schools, and shortage of staff in many places. The government should either merge such schools or repurpose them into something useful, like community health centers or skill training hubs”, said Advocate Nida Jan Mirab, educationist and social activist.
The educationists and social activist said, “Another major issue is the lack of transport the government must ensure buses are provided to take children to nearby schools. It is also important to consult local communities before making decisions, as closing schools can create resentment. By law, the government must guarantee that every child has access to education, so it needs to address these issues without wasting resources or leaving children without schools.”
Education activists warn that the shrinking enrollment undermines the Right to Education Act, leaving thousands of children at risk of losing access to free and compulsory schooling. The trend also creates challenges for the government in terms of resource allocation, as many schools continue to operate with disproportionate teacher student ratios.
The Right to Education at Risk
India’s Right to Education Act (2009) guarantees free and compulsory education for children aged 6 to14. But in J&K, this legal right is increasingly hollow. With schools shutting down or merging, access to neighborhood schools is shrinking, especially in hilly and border areas.
Advocate Farhad from Sopore opined, “Every time a school is merged, a child in a remote area has to walk farther. This discourages attendance, particularly for girls. We are failing the very spirit of the RTE Act.”
On the ground: Voices from schools and parents
Parents say they feel helpless as crumbling school buildings, outdated teaching methods, and frequent disruptions leave their children with little chance of a brighter future. With no other option, many are forced to send their children to private schools, even if it means cutting down on daily expenses or taking loans to bear the cost.
“We want our children to get quality education, even if it means taking loans to pay private school fees,” said one parent in north Kashmir district Baramulla, reflecting a common sentiment.
J&K Students Association response
One of the starkest realities behind the falling admissions in government schools is that even government teachers themselves are unwilling to admit their own children to the very institutions where they teach. This lack of faith from those inside the system sends a strong message to parents, reinforcing the belief that the government schools cannot provide a secure or quality education for their wards.
“There are myriad reasons behind the decline of admissions in government schools. Of these the most potent reason is lack of confidence of parents in government school. No parent wants to get his ward admitted in the government schools–the fact government teachers themselves don’t admit their children in the government schools speaks volumes this lack of confidence. The inadequate infrastructure and dismal quality of education dissuade parents to get their schools admitted in government run schools”, said Umar Jamal National President of J&K Students Association.
Umar Jamal also said, “I think, the best way to stop the decline in admissions in government schools or in other words to improve the quality of education is to make is mandatory for every politician, bureaucrat, and most importantly the government teachers to admit their wards in the government schools. Such provision would create stakes of these individuals in government schools, thereby pushing them to work on the quality of education in these schools, about which they are otherwise not much concerned.”
Education experts stress the need for a long-term policy, combining better investment in public schools with accountability and community involvement. Without such interventions, they warn, the state risks leaving behind an entire generation of children.
Looking ahead
As J&K aspires to improve its human development indicators, the crisis of empty classrooms stands as a reminder of the urgent reforms needed in the education sector. If left unaddressed, the continuing decline in public school enrollment could have long-lasting consequences on literacy, social mobility, and the overall future of the region.
Interview with Asif Ali Rather, Social Activist and Advocate in J&K High Court, on the State of Schools
Q: Why are parents shifting their children from government schools to private schools in J&K?
A: Parents are losing trust in government schools. The quality of education is poor—many children struggle even with basic reading and maths. On top of that, rural schools often lack electricity, clean water, and proper toilets. Even if some private schools aren’t ideal, parents see them as the better option.
Q: The government is merging small schools to save resources. Do you think this is a good step?
A: Merging has benefits and risks. It can strengthen schools by pooling teachers and facilities and saves money for infrastructure or training. But children especially girls may have to travel longer distances, which increases dropout chances. And when local schools shut down, communities feel cut off from the education system.
Q: How can government schools in J&K be improved?
A: The first step is fixing basic facilities electricity, drinking water, toilets, proper classrooms. Then, teachers should be trained in modern methods and technology. The government must also involve community leaders to rebuild parents’ confidence. Finally, introducing smart classrooms and digital tools will make education more engaging.
Q: What is your message for policymakers?
A: If the government really wants to strengthen public education, it must focus on infrastructure, teacher training, technology, and community participation. Only then can government schools in J&K regain parents’ trust and provide quality education to every child.
Why Are Parents Leaving Government Schools?
Poor Infrastructure
In many villages, school buildings are crumbling. Lack of basic infrastructure.
Jammu and Kashmir had inadequate toilet facilities, with 26.2% lacking separate usable toilets for girls. Additionally, a Free Press Kashmir report from July 2025 stated that 1,900 government schools in the region were without toilets for girls.
Link of Free Press Report: https://freepresskashmir.news/2025/07/16/1900-govt-schools-in-jk-without-toilets-for-girls-8-5-lack-power-50-dont-have-desks/
Government schools lack functional toilets, and many still don’t have boundary walls or electricity. Parents complain that these conditions are unsafe, especially for girl students.
“I didn’t want my daughter to go to a government school with toilets in poor condition,” says a mother from Budgam. “I sold a piece of gold to put her in a private school. At least she is safe there.”
Shortage of Teaching Staff
Thousands of teaching posts lie vacant across J&K. Teachers are often shuffled between schools, leaving classrooms unattended. In some schools, two or three teachers are expected to handle all classes from Grade 1 to 8.
“When thousands of teaching posts lie vacant in Jammu & Kashmir, it is not just a vacancy in schools. It is a vacancy in our children’s future. Every unfilled post is a stolen opportunity for a child to learn and grow.” Said Irfan Akbar Srinagar Based Journalist
“The famous Kashmiri poet Mehar un-Nisa expressed concern over this, saying, ‘When classrooms fall silent, the future of an entire generation is muted.’”
The Pull of Private Schools
Private schools in J&K have become status symbols. Even low-income families are willing to make financial sacrifices for what they believe is better teaching, English-medium instruction, and stricter discipline.
A father In Kupwara confesses, “I earn barely ₹12,000 a month, but I send both my children to a private school. I cannot gamble with their future by leaving them in a government school where quality education is not available”
Human Stories: The Cost of Empty Classrooms
In Gurez valley a remote valley along the Line of Control, parents trek for miles to send their children to private schools in Bandipora town, citing the absence of science and computer labs in local government schools.
“I sent my son from Gurez valley to a private school in Bandipora so that they can get a good education, because schools in Gurez have neither proper infrastructure nor basic facilities,” said a local resident of Gurez valley.
In villages many parents struggle to provide quality education to their children. With government schools lacking even the most basic facilities, families are left with no option but to turn to private institutions, despite their limited means
“I earn only 8,000 rupees a month, but I cannot send my four daughters to government schools where there are no proper facilities. I sold whatever little I had, just to give them a chance at a better future. Their dreams are bigger than my struggles,” said Ramzan Ahmad Dar, a labourer from Bandipora.
Long term consequences
The decline in government schooling across Jammu and Kashmir is raising concerns over its long-term impact on the region. Experts warn that poor families, unable to afford private education, are increasingly left behind, widening the gap in educational opportunities.
At the same time, talented students are migrating outside the Union Territory in search of quality education, leading to a potential brain drain and weakening local institutions. Villages without functional schools face the risk of social stagnation, while the overall literacy and learning outcomes of J&K may stagnate or even decline, affecting the region’s standing in national educational rankings.
“If government schools do not improve basic infrastructure and the quality of education, an entire generation could miss out on basic learning. The gap between rich and poor will only grow, and our local institutions will continue to weaken,” said Syed Nazakat Khaleefa, President of Media Council Grandebal.
Conclusion: A Race Against Time
The sight of empty classrooms in Jammu and Kashmir tells a story more alarming than statistics. It is a story of lost faith, widening inequalities, and the silent erosion of a fundamental right.
Unless urgent reforms are implemented, J&K risks creating a generation of children denied quality education, trapped between dysfunctional government schools and unaffordable private ones.
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