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| Many mobile, seasonal schools closed down Gujjar , Bakerwal kids suffering | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Aug 21: Many mobile and seasonal schools located across various upper reaches in Kashmir valley are reportedly shut as the teachers and educational volunteers are taking undue advantage of ongoing unrest and have preferred to stay away from these schools..
Details available with Early Times reveal that mobile / seasonal schools located at several places in Budgam , Pulwama , Shopian , Baramulla and Bandipora are defunct from last 40 days as many teachers and educationa staffl are not turning up for their duties in the upper reaches where lot of migratory Gujjars and Bakerwals are camping along with their families.
As on date the mobile, seasonal schools are operational in Rajouri Poonch, , Doda, Budgam, Shopian, Kupwara, Baramulla, Kargil and few
other districts of the State. Nearly 40,000 plus students are enrolled in these schools. Every year Government seeks services of more than
1100 Educational Volunteers (Teachers) for taking care of these schools and to provide quality education to the nomadic children who
otherwise would have been denied their right to basic education. In addition to seasonal schools , Mobile schools are operating in J&K from last 40 years and the teachers attached with these schools are regular employees getting salary which ranges between 30,000 to 50,0000 rupees. In Pir Panchal area many of these mobile school teachers are not at all seen but at some locations in Ashtaar, but in Doodh Pathri and Yusmarg areas some seasonal teachers are definitely running the mobile / seasonal schools say sources
The Government through the respective Zonal Educational Office takes services of local educated youth known as "Educational Volunteers ". These volunteer teachers are provided a monthly stipend of Rs 4000. In addition to this each mobile school is provided with few tents. The stationery is also provided by the Government. The volunteer teachers are deputed to various places where there is sufficient nomadic / migratory population and the children are enrolled on spot and the schools start their academic session from May onwards which continues till October. These schools provide education up to primary level only (class 5th) . From October the students attend the normal Government run schools in their respective villages.
The Mobile Seasonal schools are supposed to provide Mid Day meals to the enrolled students. But according to reliable sources the majority of the mobile schools (90 percent plus) do not provide these meals thus raising a question mark on the credibility of the School Education Department . The tents are supposed to be provided to each mobile school, but the tents were provided to the mobile schools during 2006, 2007 and 2008 which were used for few years and now from the last many years majority of students are taught under open sky.
"Only one tent has been provided in the year 2008 for 45 Mobile Seasonal centers (schools) in Charar e Sharief zone and in such a pathetic condition how can we provide quality education to these poor children?" asked Ajaz Ahmad a Seasonal Mobile teacher from Chadoora zone in Budgam who is running the show in a forest area located around 7 kms from his village Branwar . The Mobile Seasonal teachers are engaged for a period of six months only and from the last 11 years they have been demanding for their job security.
"We are being paid a monthly salary (stipend) of Rs 4000 and from 2004 till date there has been no revision in this stipend. The salaries of Government officials have been increased under 6th pay commission and now 7th pay commission is on anvil but we have been totally ignored. I appeal Education Minister to look into our genuine demands " Ajaz Ahmad added
Pertinent to mention that Early Times carried few stories about the plight of seasonal teachers in past. For last many years the Seasonal School teachers also known as "Educational Volunteers" have demanded that their monthly remuneration be hiked as they are being paid mere Rs 4000 per month from last more than 10 years and that is also one of the reasons these young men ar reluctant to join their duties in far flung areas.
President of Seasonal educational volunteers union Manzoor Ahmad Ganai told Early Times that around ten years back Government set up dozens of Seasonal schools in hilly districts of J&K with a aim to provide quality education to children from nomadic population like Gujjars , Bakerwals, Shepherds (Chopans)." It is now more than 12 years since these schools are operational during summer seasons ie May to October , but the volunteer teachers who are being engaged in these schools on seasonal basis are paid the same monthly remuneration (Rs 4000 ) which was paid to them more than 12 years back when this programme started in Jammu & Kashmir , but still many of education volunteers are running the show especially in Budgam , Pulwama and Shopian, but the regular mobile teachers who get hefty salary are not at all seen at their respective "Bahaks" he said
The Mobile Seasonal schools are supposed to provide Mid Day meals to the enrolled students. But according to reliable sources the majority
of the mobile schools (90 percent plus) do not provide these meals thus raising a question mark on the credibility of the School Education Department . The tents are supposed to be provided to each mobile school, but the tents were provided to the mobile schools during 2006, 2007 and 2008 in and few other districts Budgam which were used for few years and now from the last three years majority of students are taught under open sky. |
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