Srinagar, Nov 26: Chairman, J&K Peoples Democratic Front (J&K PDF), Hakeem Muhammad Yaseen on Tuesday accused politicians and bureaucrats of running private schools while orchestrating a conspiracy to undermine government schools for their own financial gain.
“This exploitation has shattered the dream of late Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, who envisioned providing quality education in government schools,” Yaseen said in a statement issued here. He accused political leaders and bureaucrats across Jammu and Kashmir of turning private schools into profitable businesses and undermining the government education system in the process. “The government schools are the only institutions offering free education to economically disadvantaged sections of society, but these schools are being neglected under the influence of vested interests,” he said.
Hakeem said the government, influenced by political and bureaucratic pressures, has failed to develop quality infrastructure in government schools, which further damages the education system. He called on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the education minister to take urgent action to address the underdevelopment of government schools.
The PDF chief demanded the introduction of a stringent accountability system for private schools, particularly focusing on the recruitment rules for teachers, which should align with those in government schools. “There must be strict action against private schools that exploit students by arbitrarily raising fees,” he said.
To tackle the unregulated expansion of private schools, Hakeem urged the government to release a white paper detailing the unchecked growth of private institutions across Jammu and Kashmir.
