In a recent review of the education sector in Jammu and Kashmir, Education Minister Sakina Itoo addressed concerns about the uneven distribution of teaching staff across government schools. According to a report from the Kashmir News Observer, Minister Itoo highlighted that several schools in the region either face a shortage of teachers relative to their student population or have an excessive number of teachers compared to their actual student enrollment.
To address this imbalance, the Minister has requested comprehensive data detailing the number of students and teachers in government schools across Jammu and Kashmir. She emphasized the need for a detailed, school-wise and district-wise breakdown, covering all levels from Primary to Higher Secondary schools. This directive was issued to the Directors of School Education in both the Jammu and Kashmir regions.
The minister’s comments come in the context of broader challenges facing the educational sector in the region. Official reports have revealed that nearly 4,400 government-run schools in Jammu and Kashmir have been closed due to “zero or extremely low” student enrollment. Out of a total of 23,117 government schools, 4,394 institutions were removed from the Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) database, primarily affecting primary schools. The figures show a significant reduction in the number of operational primary schools, which dropped by almost 30% after a consolidation process. Initially, there were 12,977 government primary schools, but after restructuring, only 8,966 remain functional.
The overall number of both government and private educational institutions in the Union Territory has decreased. Previously, Jammu and Kashmir had 28,805 schools, but the current count stands at 24,279, indicating a substantial drop.
Earlier, the School Education Department had identified over 1,200 government schools with low student enrollment, suggesting that these schools might be merged based on geographic feasibility and student accessibility. In April 2022, the department had already announced plans to merge approximately 720 government schools with inadequate student numbers to optimize resources and improve efficiency.
The current push for detailed enrollment and staffing data reflects the government's ongoing efforts to streamline the educational infrastructure, ensuring that resources are better aligned with the needs of students and communities.
