Winter tutorial program fails to attract students in Srinagar

Srinagar, Jan 20: The much-hyped winter tutorial initiative launched by the Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) has received a lackluster response in Srinagar this year. The program, which aims to offer free tuition to students from Class 6 to Class 12, has been marred by poor implementation, inadequate infrastructure and lukewarm interest from parents.
Initially launched with great fanfare in December 2015 by then Minister for Education Naeem Akhtar, the initiative under the Chief Minister’s Super-50 Tutorial was envisioned as a means to bridge learning gaps and provide academic support during the winter months. Additionally, it aimed to prepare students for competitive exams by offering free study materials, assignments, and expert coaching from top faculty within the state’s Education Department.
This year, however, the program has struggled to meet its objectives. Parents have raised concerns over insufficient facilities, including inadequate heating in tutorial centers. Furthermore, the timing of the program has clashed with students’ other academic schedules, further reducing participation.
“Winter in Srinagar is harsh, and it’s impossible for kids to focus when they’re freezing in the classroom. The heating system is barely working in most centers,” said Sajad Ahmad, a parent.
“These tutorials were a great idea, but the lack of proper facilities are making it impossible for students to benefit,” said Shameema Akhtar, a mother of two students enrolled in the program.
“Why bother offering free education if you can’t provide basic facilities? The tutors aren’t even present most of the time,” said Javed Iqbal, another parent.
Another parent, Asif Khan, said, “The whole point of winter tutorials is to provide extra help when students have free time, but this time, the timing was poorly planned and clashed with my kids’ other academic commitments.”
The heating charges, though minimal, have also discouraged enrollment, particularly among families facing financial hardships. Many parents feel the charges contradict the program’s promise of free education and have called for the complete removal of such fees to encourage participation.
“Being from a low-income family, we were hoping for some relief,” said Ghulam Hassan, a father of two students. “The nominal heating charges feel unfair, especially when you’re already struggling to make ends meet.”
Despite its noble intentions, the program’s limited success this year has highlighted the need for significant reforms. DSEK has appointed Zonal Education Officers (ZEOs) and Chief Education Officers (CEOs) to monitor the program’s implementation more effectively. However, reports from various zones indicate irregularities in teacher attendance and compliance. In Kupwara’s Mawar zone, for instance, a list of non-compliant teachers has been submitted for suspension due to their failure to report for duty.
Parents believe that such issues undermine the credibility of the program and its ability to deliver meaningful academic support.
Rising Kashmir reached out to Director School Education Kashmir, G N Itoo, for comments but did not receive a response. Efforts to contact Shabina Kysar, Chief Education Officer (CEO) of Srinagar, for inputs also went unanswered. However, a senior official from DSEK, speaking on condition of anonymity, acknowledged the issues and said, “The timing of the program was the biggest reason for the lukewarm interest in the scheme.”
When asked about the data on the number of children enrolled and the centers established, the official added, “Srinagar has the lowest enrollment. We are in the process of compiling data from other districts as well. The data will be released soon.”
While the winter tutorial initiative was designed with a commendable vision to support students during the challenging winter months, its current struggles underscore the need for better planning, improved infrastructure, and greater engagement with parents and students. Unless these issues are addressed comprehensively, the program risks falling short of its ambitious objectives.