The Kashmiri community is concerned that after 2010, children's education will continue even in times of unrest and instability. All the credit goes to the 'mohalla', schools. The literal meaning of 'mohalla' translate to neighbourhood community.
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In the morning of August 22, 2019, at dawn, as the sun was rising on the distant snowy peaks, I was on my way to the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) in Saura, Srinagar to see my five-day-old baby. My baby was admitted there because he had difficulty breathing at birth. During the 55-kilometer journey from my home in Pulwama, I saw two children, about six and nine years old, carrying books on the open road near the hospital. It is not uncommon to see two children walking towards a 'mohalla' school in their area on such an open and desolate road in the conflict-ridden Kashmir Valley. But, the disturbing peace that has prevailed in the Kashmir Valley for the last one and a half months, at the same time, seeing those two children walking on that deserted road, at the same time, feelings of hope and despair rose in my mind.
Section 370 was unilaterally repealed and the state of Jammu and Kashmir was divided into two Union Territories on August 5. Since then, the Kashmir Valley has been mired in curfew. The state has a curfew imposed by the government, but also a civil curfew imposed by ordinary citizens in rural and urban areas against the government. Barricades have been erected on almost every street and sidewalk. Also, armed soldiers are seen standing behind the bunker at every turn. No shops are open for business, no private or government offices are open. Schools and colleges are closed. Internet is off, mobile and telephone services are off. In short, the civil liberties of the citizens have been taken away and the Kashmiri people have been cut off from the rest of the world for more than 45 days.
The frequent closure of schools and colleges has led to the deterioration of the education system in Kashmir. Due to continuous curfew, the curriculum has remained incomplete and hence the quality of education has declined along with the quality of education. It also means that the responsibility of teachers to maintain academic standards has diminished. Frequent and prolonged school closures have affected the socio-psychological behavior of children and youth. Between July 2016 and May 30, 2017, students lost 60% of their school days due to curfews, shutdowns and violence.
During this crisis, the government took the initiative to reopen 190 schools from August 19, 2019, but not a single day has been filled since August 5. The ban on all media channels has led to a proliferation of rumors, misinformation and rumors. So parents are only allowed to send their children closer to home. For the education system in the valley, there is a well on one side and a valley on the other. The government tried to start the school to show that everything was going well. But citizens are concerned about the safety of their children who go out to school. The social pressure of the civil curfew and the small to large incidents of stone-throwing have further frightened parents. In such a situation, they prefer to send their children to local 'mohalla' schools or to the homes of teachers living nearby for teaching,
The ongoing unrest, daily stone-throwing incidents, armed resistance of the security forces, recurring incidents of violence and bloodshed have all affected the overall development of the society. The Kashmir Valley is a region of constant conflict, but the mohalla schools in the area have created the necessary freedom, freedom and empowerment among the citizens and their children. It is a source of hope in the current crisis and conflicted life. After the turmoil of 2010, mohalla schools and local school classes have kept pace with the changing social conditions. Ordinary Kashmiri citizens have found different ways to impart modern education to their children, which is bringing about a positive change in the thinking of the society. As a result,
Mohalla schools are run wherever space and opportunities are available, such as one's home or a community center, as well as rented rooms. The background of the teachers in these schools is different: such as undergraduate, postgraduate teachers as well as teachers in closed schools, researchers and people with jobs in both public and private sectors, and all of them offer their services for free. This parallel system has evolved to such a level that when schools were closed due to curfews and violence, such informal teachers took care of the children’s schooling. Mohalla schools, in a sense, have played an important role in bridging the socio-economic gap created in Kashmir by bringing the community together.
At present, when the political conflict is raging in the Kashmir Valley, a total of 30 students up to class VIII attend the mohalla schools. Those classes usually run from 8 to 11.30 in the morning. Classes are held in the same premises between 3.30 pm and 6.30 pm for higher secondary students. "Political struggles and crises will continue to come, but we cannot predict the future of children and students," said a mathematics teacher at a local school in Pulwama. Conflict has various social and psychological effects, so education is the only way where children have the opportunity to think constructively and positively. ”
Many students who are preparing for the National Eligibility and Entrance Examination (NEET), Civil Service Examination (PSC) and other professional examinations go to study at the home of an expert in the subject. In Pulwama district, students preparing for the National Eligibility and Entrance Examinations study together and take lessons from students who have passed these examinations.
The Kashmiri community has taken care to ensure that children's education continues even after the turmoil of 2010, in times of instability and turmoil, and the credit for this goes to the 'mohalla' school system. While it may seem like a dream for all to get better in Kashmir, lifting the media ban in the Kashmir Valley is an easy way to solve the problem. Currently, in addition to the armed presence of security forces everywhere, most parents do not approve of sending their children to regular government schools, as the spread of rumors and misinformation has created an atmosphere of fear in the Valley. As long as the media does not run smoothly, even if the government starts schools, the government will fail to encourage parents to send their children to school.
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