A large number of students displaced from Kashmir due to ongoing unrest are seeking admission in various schools in Jammu with parents moving from pillar to post for making possible mid-term admissions to save the education year of their wards and are also facing difficult times given the financial burden of accommodation, educational expenses and travel.
The problem has also been compounded by mismatch in academic calendar of the provinces as well as available options viz-a-viz J&K BOSE, CBSE. It also puts a greater financial burden on parents in view of dual expenditure for admission fees, tuition fee and other allied expenses.
More than 15000 students have sought admission in Jammu schools so far and number is inflating every day. Parents are also looking for rented accommodations in Jammu city and outskirts which is also a factor for inflation in the real estate sector in the city as a recent phenomenon.
Thakur Sher Singh, Prinicpal of Govt Higher Secondary Sunjwan said that parents of more than 50-60 students have approached for admission school so far. “School education department is contemplating additional classes with morning and evening shift in view of alarming increase in migration of students” he added. Farhat Muzaffar, Master in HSS Sunjwan said “Special compensatory classes have been started for migrant students and school management is making all out efforts for timely completion of syllabi” adding that “parents are facing tremendous hardships in finding accommodation which in many cases has delayed admissions”.
Manzoor Ahmed Wani who shifted his three children from Delhi Public School, Srinagar to a private school in Jammu said that Government should make an extra-mile effort to save the career of lakhs of students which is being wasted due to repeated calls of shutdown and resultant restrictions. “Both the Government and separatist organisations need to give a serious thought to devise a mechanism to ensure opening of schools as this is going to be a historic loss of generations which cannot be compensated or undone” said Mushtaq Parry of Budgam who admitted his daughter in Class XII at a Govt School in Jammu.
Parents of migrant students are also forming a group for voicing their concern against repeated shutdown calls and restrictions leading to prolonged closure of schools which has forced them to migrate to Jammu and other parts putting the students in mental trauma and also adding to financial burden for poor families.
Many schools in Jammu have waived the admission fee and admitted the students charging only tuition fee as a goodwill gesture in crisis. However, it remains to be seen as to whether a breakthrough is achieved for opening schools in coming days as majority of the family unable to afford migration are settling with loss of education year of students.
