Lease not renewed, Kashmir Valley’s oldest missionary school stares at closure

Our Correspondent

Srinagar, February 3

As one of the oldest Christian Missionary schools in Kashmir, St Joseph’s Higher Secondary School, Baramulla, informed parents that the school faces uncertainty due to the expiry of the government lease, the Private Schools’ Association of Jammu and Kashmir (PSAJK) has expressed its deep concern and profound disappointment over it saying “if such an established institution can be targeted then no one is safe.”

Deeply concerned, says Private Schools’ Association

• Expressing concern over the development, Private Schools’ Association of J&K has said the news has sent “shockwaves through the entire education community in Kashmir. If such an institution can be targeted then no one is safe”
• “With every similar step, we may face closure of hundreds of private schools. It throws the livelihood of thousands of teachers and school staff into uncertainty and threatens the very existence of private schools in the Valley,” it added

The government has decided that it will “tag” the students of private schools that are operating on government land to nearby institutes. The registrations of these schools were not renewed as the administration had directed them to stop operating on the government land. Since the school is operating from the government land and the lease has not been extended its students will be tagged to nearby school.

“We urge the authorities to understand the gravity of this situation. This decision is not just bureaucratic, it is deeply emotional. It disrupts the lives of countless families and shatters the dreams of our children,” said a spokesperson for PSAJK.

“These arbitrary decisions have given a permanency on the dark shadow hanging on the future of education in our valley and jeopardised the wellbeing of tens of thousands of students who face similar situations in other schools. Private schools put in their blood and sweat to teach students and at the end of the year students are illegally tagged with government school where they have never set foot. We are heartbroken to see the future of our children being jeopardised by the continuation of these insensitive decisions,” said the spokesperson.

“This system, hell-bent on derailing education in Kashmir, must be reformed. We implore the authorities to prioritise the well-being of our children and work collaboratively with stakeholders to ensure a bright future for education in our beloved valley.”

The Principal of St Joseph’s School, in his letter to the parents, has said: “Before the expiry of the lease (of the land on which the school is built), in 2018, the management approached the department concerned for the renewal with relevant necessary documents, including the recommendations of Deputy Commissioner of Baramulla. The file has been pending in the office of the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, since April 2022.”

The letter says an NOC of Revenue Department concerned was sufficient to renew the affiliation of the school, but it could not evoke any response from the department concerned in spite of repeated appeals from the school management.

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