Experts Welcome Govt Takeover of Jamaat-run Schools
FIRDOUS AHMAD
SRINAGAR, Aug 23: The government’s recent decision to formally take over 215 schools previously administered by Jamaat-e-Islami may have sparked debates in political circles, but within the educational fraternity, the mood is one of optimism and relief. For many teachers, educationists, and parents, the move is being seen less as an interruption and more as a promise of continuity—one that secures the future of nearly 60,000 students without disturbing the learning environment they have come to know.
Dr. Bashir Ahmad, a former professor of education at the University of Kashmir, described the step as “a healing measure rather than a disruptive one.” According to him, the Valley’s children have long suffered the burden of uncertainty in their schooling due to the legal status of these institutions. “When a child walks into a classroom, she should not carry the anxiety of whether her school is recognized or not. This decision frees students from that invisible stress. It protects them from a future where their hard work could have been dismissed on technical grounds,” he observed.
Educational experts largely agree that for students and teachers, life inside these schools will continue unchanged in the most essential ways. Classrooms, teaching staff, syllabi, and day-to-day learning practices will remain intact. The only visible shift, they say, will come in the form of improved infrastructure, access to updated resources, and recognition under the National Education Policy. “This is not about reinventing the wheel. It is about oiling the existing one so it runs smoother,” said Dr. Mehmooda Jan, an education policy analyst, adding that the continuity of teaching staff ensures no break in the delicate teacher-student bond.
Parents too, who once feared that their children’s education might be jeopardized, now find reassurance in the government’s assurances. Education Minister Sakina Itoo, while addressing the issue, underlined that these measures were not political in nature but designed to protect the educational rights of thousands of boys and girls. “We want to safeguard the academic interests of our children. They will continue to study as before, but now within a framework that provides stability and recognition,” she said.
Several academics have also pointed out that the decision provides a rare chance to integrate community-rooted institutions into a broader, nationally recognized system without dismantling their character. Many of these schools had earned the trust of parents over decades for their discipline and quality of teaching. With the government stepping in, experts believe the schools will now shed the shadow of legal ambiguity while retaining the values that made them popular in the first place. “The essence of these schools—the close-knit environment, the personal attention to students—will remain untouched. What will be added are facilities like better libraries, teacher training, and digital tools, which will make them stronger,” noted education researcher Farooq Trali.
There is also consensus that teachers, nearly 4,000 of whom were directly employed in these institutions, will benefit from the transition. Their jobs remain protected, while opportunities for professional development are likely to expand under government supervision. “This is a win-win for both teachers and students. Nobody loses, and everybody gains in terms of recognition and resources,” remarked Dr. Jan.
The takeover, officials explained, will be overseen by district authorities in coordination with the School Education Department. New managing committees will be set up, but their role will largely be administrative rather than pedagogical. The government order clearly states that the academic careers of enrolled students must not be disrupted, a commitment that has further allayed fears among parents.
Perhaps the most striking aspect of the move is the quiet sense of relief it has generated within the Valley’s educational landscape. What once seemed like a looming crisis for thousands of families has been transformed into an opportunity for growth. “When education becomes hostage to uncertainty, the greatest sufferers are children. This decision ensures their dreams will no longer hang in balance. It is a positive course correction,” said educationist Abdul Rashid Rather.
As the new academic session unfolds, the children of these schools will continue to recite lessons, write in their notebooks, and play in their courtyards just as before. For them, the transition will be invisible. But behind the scenes, a stronger system is being built—one that promises to hold firm when the winds of uncertainty blow again.
