After three and a half months of unrest in Kashmir, there is hardly a district who has not witnessed the burning of school. Five schools were burnt in the past five days. As per the information revealed by the education department, 17government, high and higher secondary schools have been furtive during the unrest. Among these seven were completely finished to ashes while another 10 were damaged somewhat in the fire.
Moreover 17 government schools, two prominent private schools have also been damaged in the fire when Kashmir shuts for the past 109days as the death of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani on July 8. Although most of the schools have been burnt in that black night by unidentified miscreants, some have caught fire allegedly after the security forces fired tear gas shells on the protestors.
Most of the schools damaged during unrest in Kashmir
The most damage has to face Kulgam district in south Kashmir out of 10 districts where five schools have been either partially or completely damaged in the fire. Then, the central district of Budgam has also witnessed of its three burning schools. In such condition, the teachers of Kulgam district have decided to guard the schools during the nights.
“Following the fire incidents, we held meeting with district administration and teachers regarding the safety of schools. We decided that teachers volunteered to stay in the school premises during nights hours to make sure the safety of the building,” Chief education officer, Kulgam, Abdul Rauf Shahmari was quoted in a media report.
Residents should also take responsibilities of protecting schools
On the other hand, police said they were trying to identify the unknown who had involved in this incident. It is matter of concern for us. The efforts of identifying the miscreants is in the process and also putting in place some security measures like area domination to avoid such incidents,” said the state’s director general of police, K. Rajendra Kumar.
He further said there were thousands of school, so local residents also have to take responsibility of protecting these schools. “Due to the unrest in Kashmir and schools that have damaged in the riots jeopardizes the future of several school-going children,” he added.
From the time when Wani’s death in an encounter on July8 and the protests thereafter students have not attended the classes for the past 109 days. The government has decided in a view of exams of higher and secondary classes in November despite students not even able to cover 50 percentage of their syllabus.
Students oppose exam to conduct in November
The government has decided to go ahead with the exams of high and higher secondary classes in November despite students not even able to cover 50 percent of their syllabus due to unrest inKashmirr. Another side, the adamancy of government to hold the exams has prompted protests by the students demanding exams to be conducted in March.
The government has maintained that security forces would be vacated from these schools once the situation improves.
