‘Just Two Teachers for All Semesters’: Students
TAUSEEF AHMAD
BANDIPORA, Aug 10: The Government Degree College (GDC) in Tulail Valley, a remote area in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, was established with the hope of providing higher education to the marginalized Dard Shina community. However, the college has instead become a source of despair for students, as severe staff shortages are crippling their educational prospects.
The college, which began operations in 2019, has been plagued by an acute shortage of faculty, forcing students to seek admissions in other colleges far from their homes. This has exacerbated the challenges faced by these students, many of whom are from impoverished backgrounds and cannot afford the additional expenses associated with studying in distant districts.
One local student, who recently completed his graduation, shared his harrowing experience with Kashmir Despatch. “During my 6th semester, we were only taught English. There was no faculty for any of the other subjects—neither permanent nor contractual,” he said. The lack of teachers forced him to travel more than 15 kilometers daily to attend college, only to return home disappointed. “I have not seen a lecturer for my major subject in the college. How can I compete with students from other colleges?” he lamented.
The situation is equally dire for students from far-flung villages of Tulail who face arduous journeys to reach the college, often walking for several kilometers or hitching rides in private vehicles due to the absence of regular public transport. A 4th-semester student described his daily routine, which begins at 7 a.m. and involves a 13-kilometer trek. “Despite all the effort to reach college on time, the absence of faculty is ruining our future. We haven’t been taught a single chapter in Education or other subjects this year,” he said.
The students’ grievances are not new. For the past three years, they have raised their concerns repeatedly, but little has changed. The lack of resolution has led to a growing sense of frustration and helplessness among the student body. “Instead of addressing our genuine grievances, the government is forcing us to take admissions in colleges far away from our homes in Bandipora, which not all of us can afford,” another student added.
Transportation issues compound the problem. The college lacks its own transport facility, making it difficult for students to attend classes regularly, especially given the area’s lack of public transport options. For the 83 students currently enrolled, only two teaching staff members are available, making it nearly impossible to cover the syllabus comprehensively. “We don’t have any coaching centers here; we depend entirely on the college faculties, but the shortage of staff is forcing us to drop our education midway,” the students explained.
One of the few permanent staff members, Majid, corroborated the students’ accounts, stating that only one of the two teachers regularly attends college, while non-teaching staff members often step in to handle administrative tasks and oversee exams. Data gathered by Kashmir Despatch reveals that the college has seven sanctioned teaching positions, but only two have been filled since December 2023, leaving the majority of posts vacant.
The faculty shortages have been a persistent issue since the college’s inception. Although the government occasionally sends lecturers on a contractual basis, their tenure is often short-lived, with many leaving after just two or three months. “This is the routine every year, in every semester,” said Abdul Khaliq, a local resident. He attributed the high turnover to the remoteness of the area, which deters faculty members from staying long-term. The construction of residential quarters for faculty is currently underway and is expected to be completed by the end of the year, which may help alleviate the problem.
In response to the situation, Dr. Masood Ahmad Malik, Principal of GDC Bandipora, who also holds additional charges for GDC Tulail Gurez, acknowledged the staff shortage. He assured Kashmir Despatch that the vacant posts would be filled soon after the admission process for the next batch is completed.
Despite repeated attempts to contact the Director of Colleges Kashmir for an official statement, the officer did not respond to calls or messages from this reporter.
The students of GDC Tulail Valley are now hoping that their voices will finally be heard and that the authorities will take immediate action to resolve these issues, allowing them to continue their education without further disruption. Their future, they say, hangs in the balance.
