To address the constant enrolment decline, the J&K administration needs to come up with a systematic policy to regulate role in schools
That a formal enrollment drive has recently been started by the government of Jammu and Kashmir to increase enrollment in government schools, is a great step forward. Not only does this initiative reveal the seriousness of the education department towards the enrollment decline in these schools but it also reflects the gravity of the situation which has led to this outstanding move from the department of school education, Kashmir. Full marks to the education department (J&K) for its timely and much-needed step aimed at increasing the number of students in government schools.
Though the government, in year 2015, appreciably clubbed several government schools due to the consistent decrease of enrolment to stem the tide, things since then have neither been encouraging nor discouraging. More needs to be done. Yet the fact remains that clubbing the schools did cast its positive impact as well: teachers came together sharing experiences and expertise which infused a new lease of life into the school atmosphere and achievement.
Pertinently, an enrollment drive by the J&K Department of Education was initiated towards the end of 2020 across the erstwhile state; teachers were visiting people’s homes to convince parents for admitting their children in government schools. The unique step was very successful because reportedly more than 40000 children were admitted at the government-run schools.
A dispassionate analysis is needed to understand the causes of decreasing enrolment in government schools. This author as a teacher believes that the following major factors cause the decline in admissions in the government schools —especially upto the secondary level.
One, we have an expansive network of government and private schools in every area, every town, every village and every habitation/mohalla across Jammu and Kashmir. In this situation, the school-going children of a particular habitation get distributed mainly on the basis of quality education provided at a school. True, establishing new government schools and upgrading the existing ones has provided jobs to lakhs of youth besides increasing the literacy rate. But with the establishment of private schools alongside the state-run schools, the enrolment has taken a severe beating.
Interestingly, the enrolment also declines at private schools because of the huge expenses—which parents fail to bear— or because of the dozens of these schools available in every habitation. On one hand, the multiple number of private schools means a healthy competition for better performance and is an index of an advancing society. On the other hand, the growing number of such schools means people have many options to choose and thus decide the number of admissions in those schools.
Two, our education primarily focuses on getting a government job. When we get it, we naturally heave a sigh of relief and with the passage of time begin to take things for granted. It can be assumed that this happens with almost all government jobs, including those of the government school teachers. So with no/little pressure to perform, the performance of government schools lags behind private schools and hits the enrollment there. In the context of private schools, the situation is different.
The teachers in the private sector find no reason to take things for granted: they realize that their job, even if low paid, survives on their performance. Consequently, they put in hard efforts to bring out the best results which can satisfy their employer. One often hears people saying that when so and so government teacher was working at a private school, he/she was brilliant at teaching. But why does that teacher not perform satisfactorily at a government school now? The major cause is he/she feels no pressure to perform at the Governemnt School. It is the pressure to perform that keeps private schools ahead of their counterparts in the government sector.
Three, students at government schools are directly admitted in the first standard whereas those of private schools are admitted in kindergarten (KG) classes, a preparatory stage for entry into primary education. In KG classes, students learn basics like alphabet, numbers which prepares them mentally for primary education. Since such classes are not officially permitted at government schools, the children there directly are required to learn words, sentences and huge numbers in the first standard. That they find very difficult to learn and thus remain weaker and backward in learning than their counterparts in private schools. The immediate fallout of this poor learning makes parents hate government schools and they withdraw their children from schools, cursing government school teachers.
Four, at government schools, primary classes are generally taught by the 12th class pass out and untrained / non-B.ED degree teachers while the higher classes are taught by trained and post- graduate teachers. In this atmosphere, primary classes find it hard to raise their performance. Consequently, the students later on show dismal performance in higher classes— a situation which forces parents to withdraw their children from government schools, leading to the decline in admissions.
To address the constant enrolment decline, the J&K administration needs to come up with a systematic policy to regulate role in schools. KG classes may be formally permitted for government schools. Transfer — after two or three years —for teachers including the Reheber-e-Taleem pattern teachers of all categories, is essential to bring in fresh motivation among the teaching personnel. Follow up exercises to ensure accountability is not out of place.
Notably, the exemplary commitment and honest dedication displayed by the JK government amid the COVID-19 pandemic towards the education of children in J&K can act as a real morale booster and stepping stone to take school education to its new heights.
Big moves like the enrollment drive initiated are very vital, not only for inspiring people for trusting government schools but also sending a positive message across the department of school education that is capable of doing the best for the well-being of people.
(Author is Rising Kashmir Columnist. He can be reached on: sheikhshabir518@gmail.com)
Box: Big moves like the enrollment drive initiated are very vital, not only for inspiring people for trusting government schools but also sending a positive message across the department of school education that is capable of doing the best for the well-being of
