Srinagar, Nov 27 (KNO): As the school education department is conducting enrollment drives in Kashmir to attract more and more students towards government schools, several institutions in Tral sub-division of south Kashmir's Pulwama district are grappling with staff shortage and poor infrastructure.
As per the details obtained by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), many government schools in Tral continue to reel under severe infrastructure deficiencies and acute staff shortages, leaving hundreds of students, mostly from economically weaker families, struggling for basic educational facilities.
Aggrieved parents and locals have urged the Education Minister to personally intervene and address what they describe as “years of neglect”.
They said that despite multiple requests to authorities, several schools in Tral are functioning under extremely difficult conditions, with children studying in tin sheds, overcrowded classrooms, and buildings lacking even basic amenities.
At Middle School Tral-e-Bala, more than 70 students are forced to attend classes in tin sheds, exposed to extreme heat in summer and freezing temperatures in winter. “It becomes unbearable for our children during harsh summers and even worse in the cold months,” said Abdul Rashid, a concerned parent. “If the government can provide other facilities across the district, why can’t they give our kids proper classrooms?”
Teachers also expressed helplessness, saying that teaching in such conditions directly affects learning outcomes.
The situation is similar at Government Middle School Lanzgund Branpathri, where around 70 students from nine different classes are taught by only five teachers in just four rooms. “How can nine classes run in four rooms? Students end up disturbing each other because different subjects are taught in the same space,” said Shabir Ahmad, a local. “Our children deserve better than this.”
At Government Middle School Gurtoo, 140 students are cramped into only three functional rooms. Parents said the shortage of both classrooms and staff has severely impacted the quality of education. “Our kids are bright, but how can they learn properly when they are squeezed into overcrowded rooms?” said Rafiqa Begum, a mother of two. “The government should at least provide additional classrooms and appoint teachers where needed.”
Schools in Satoora and Zarihad also face similar issues. GMS Satoora has around 150 students but is functioning with just six rooms. Locals said the infrastructure has not been upgraded for years. “It’s the same story every year. Promises are made, but nothing changes,” said Manzoor Ahmad, a resident of Satoora. “We urge the department to take our children’s future seriously.”
The most alarming condition has been reported from Gojer Basti Showjan Panzoo, where the school, functioning from nursery to class 8th in four rooms, has no toilet facility whatsoever. “This is the only government school in the area without a toilet,” said Ghulam Nabi, a local elder. “Girls especially suffer the most. How can a school run without something as basic as a washroom?”
Parents warn that the absence of a toilet not only affects hygiene but also discourages students, especially girls, from attending regularly.
Parents across these villages have appealed for immediate intervention by the Education Minister to ensure proper infrastructure, adequate staffing, and basic amenities. “We are not demanding anything extraordinary—just the fundamentals of a dignified education system,” said Mohammad Yousuf, a parent. “We are poor people. The government schools are our only hope.”
Locals said that unless urgent action is taken, the educational future of hundreds of children in Tral will continue to hang in the balance. They questioned the government's enrollment drives: "On what basis can they lure students when there is poor infrastructure and staff shortages?"—(KNO)