Scores of educated youth across Kashmir have started an innovative initiative of community-based coaching centers for the students, amid the ongoing uprising & harshest restriction imposed by the authorities. The centers, which are providing free of cost tuitions, have evoked huge response from the students, writes Syed Tajamul Imran
|| SYED TAJAMUL IMRAN
The ongoing uprising and continued curfew for past almost two months has forced closure of the schools across Kashmir, post the encounter of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July8. While the schooling has come to complete halt, the conduct of examinations looks a very rare possibility in the ongoing situation. The educational institutions in Kashmir were closed for annual summer break on July 1. The break which was scheduled to end on July 17 was then extended up to July 25 due to the prevailing situation in the Valley which has witnessed more than 65 killings and injuries to over 6000 persons, including students, in forces action.
The crisis has been discussed even in Parliament of India as well as in All Parties Meetings which were separately called by the State as well as the Government of India to find a way to normalize situation in Kashmir. Amid the continued curfew which is nearing two months, some educated youth have launched an innovative and timely initiative to start community based coaching centers for the students. The centers, which are providing free of cost tuitions in different localities, have evoked huge response from the students and their parents. Without any doubt, the centers have, to a great extent, sufficed the need of the students in these trying times and provided much relief to parents of these students.
These centers are a message that we care for our students in times of conflict and struggle. We are providing free coaching for all the subjects and those students who have access to Internet will be provided material online. Let’s take a step towards change. Drop a message here & keep sharing.
The initiative, unique of its kind, has won praise from all quarters and has been described as a “great step and a step in right direction”. Apart from young and dedicated educated volunteers, All Jammu and Kashmir Students Union (AJKSU) has, as a premier students body, taken a lead in not only providing education in these community centers via its volunteers, but also has established many such centers throughout the length and breadth of the Valley. The AJKSU and the like-bodies are with every passing day widening the net of such education centers. Keeping in view the ever grave situation of Kashmir in mind these education centers mainly operate at early morning and evening times with students braving heavy deployment of security forces to reach to these centers.
Apart from religious and civil societies, pro freedom parties have also asked youth to take the initiative in opening more and more such centers which has generated a positive response. A volunteer Azra Muftia, who is member of All J&K Students Union, teaches Management, English and other subjects up to class 1oth. “These centers are a message that we care for our students in these times of conflict and struggle. We are providing free coaching for all the subjects and those students who have access to Internet will be provided material online. Let’s take a step towards change.
Drop a message here & keep sharing,” reads her Face Book post. Children have been travelling long distances to attend these classes as they struggle to study in the absence of regular schooling. Mehvish is a 5th grade from Uptown area of Hyderpora in Srinagar. But her school is shut since the start of the uprising in Kashmir after the killing of Burhan. Every day she walks more than two kilometers on foot, accompanied by her mother, to a makeshift school for early morning classes. “I miss my regular school but I also like my new teachers,” said Mehvish. “I have many new friends at the new school.
In many of these makeshift schools people have made donation for arranging tables, chairs and blackboards while as at some places the government schools, which are closed, have allowed the volunteers to use their furniture in makeshift schools till situation returns to normalcy.
We gossip and study together.” Over 150 students are being taught by volunteers at a mosque in downtown area of the summer capital. The “school” was started by locals after a group of educated youth volunteered for teaching the students. Another volunteer, Muzamil Maqbool, who teaches English, Political science and up to class 10th writes on F ace B ook: “ If a nyone i s i nterested in tuition classes for 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th for English and Political Science he/she can come to my home. I will try to cover the syllabus asap (free of cost) and would be happy to offer tea and free WIFI.” Syed Suhail Yaqoob a scholar and a formal member of AJKSU believe that many Kashmiri students may not be able to afford private tuition in future.
“Therefore this initiative should be continued and carried on a large scale,” said Yaqoob who currently teaches around 100 students from class 1-12th at his home in a far-flung village Nazneenpora of south Kashmir’s Shopian district. “It took us time to channelize the initiative but now students come themselves as they hear about free classes.” Meanwhile, All J&K Students Union on their official Face book account, having more than 4000 followers have released a list of their members with their residence and phone numbers, who are teaching children’s across the Valley free of cost. On July 20, Jammu and Kashmir Government, announced to open the schools in Bandipora, Baramulla, Budgam and Ganderbal districts as Education Minister Nayeem Akhter sought cooperation from parents to re-open schools.
The response, however, from both teachers and students was discouraging due to the continuous shutdowns and curfew. “It is great shame that on one hand the government is continuing with clampdown across Kashmir and on the other hand it is asking school kids to join the morning assemblies,” said a volunteer who teaches Political Science in Barzulla area of Srinagar. “In these trying times we won’t compromise our right to resist and at the same time we as a nation are also motivated to give our future generation a quality education,” he said.
In many of these makeshift schools people have made donation for arranging tables, chairs and blackboards while as at some places the government schools, which are closed, have allowed the volunteers to use their furniture in makeshift schools till situation returns to normalcy. However in many of these schools, children often have to sit on the floor in absence of proper matting. Despite the difficulties being faced by the students they regularly come to attend the classes.
While some students come to these classes in groups, walking through inner streets, in many cases parents of these students accompany them to the tuitions. But the concept of the community based coaching centers evolved after lot of struggle by the volunteers who had to, in many cases, persuade their parents and well as the parents of the students to support the initiative.
“This concept didn’t materialize overnight and instead we had to put in lot of efforts to make it going,” said one volunteer, Muzaffar Ahmad. “We went from one locality to another to find students, learnt about their lessons and then arrange teacher,” he said. “Though there were initial hiccups, it has however paid off.”
(Author is the President of All J&K Students Union (AJKSU), pursuing MBA, can be reached atsyedtajamul09@ gmail.com).
