Politicisation of educational institutions

By Abdul Rashid Khan In J&K, previously, it was a tradition that all the national days, such as, 5th September, 2nd October and 14th November which correlates with, teacher's day, Gandhi Jayanti and Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru's birth day, used to be celebrated in the state by the teachers and students in their institutions by organizing debates and cultural program's with all fervour.

This year the coalition government headed by the present chief minister of Congress party, not only made a big public show of these national days after putting teachers and students to great inconvenience but exploited the educational institutions for their political ends to please their mentors at centre.

Since the political parties have to put in lot of efforts in organising the public meetings and spent huge amount out of party fund but this year the Congress party was lucky to have a ready made gathering of teachers and students and through them the public in shape of spectators while organizing and celebrating these national days.

The celebration of teachers day on 5th September in Srinagar invited lot of criticism from different walks of life through print and electronic media.

The 5th September, being the birthday of S.

Radhakrishnan, is celebrated as teachers day as mark of respect to remember him not as president but as a teacher.

It is unfortunate that the politicians did not spare even this occasion by politicizing this day by arranging the gathering of thousands of teachers in Sher-i-Kashmir cricket stadium Srinagar, through administrative dictums and used this special event as political platform.

The similar function was also organised in Jammu which received large scale condemnation from various social and political parties by holding demonstrations in the city.

Similarly, much furore, was witnessed, to celebrate Gandhi Jayanti, this year at Srinagar, as for more than one month the principals of colleges remained busy in making the arrangements for debates and seminars at the cost of studies of students.

The big homage to the father of nation would have been to celebrate the day in most simple manner and to follow the truthfulness of Gandhi ji in real life and adopt the politics of serving the people with selflessness.

On 14th November, Nehru ji's birth day was, also celebrated in a similar fashion by organizing a big show in stadium at Jammu and the students of schools had to wait for long period for the arrival of the VIP.

The educational institutions particularly the universities of Jammu and Kashmir have become hub of activities for politicians who use these centers for their political gain In other states these important occasions are also celebrated as national days but not as political shows.

The government should leave it to the heads of these institutions to celebrate these national days, as these occasions have much relevance for the teachers and children than the politicians.

Instead of, overplaying, these occasions for the political ends, the government should concentrate more on policy making and its implementation so that the people are benefited as required to be done in a welfare state.

Instead of politicising such events, the administrative establishments should remove the anomalies in the pay structure of the teachers posted in primary, high and higher secondary schools who possess same educational qualifications but serving- in different grades.

Even the Rehbar-e-Taleem teachers are highly qualified having degrees of BEd and MEd but are less paid than the SPO's who are middle pass or hardly matriculates.

The state should lay more stress on the infrastructure and quality of education than going for expansion and upgradation of school.

The fact is that some of the existing government, primary and high schools do not have even the basic amenities of drinking water, bath rooms and toilets.

Since the situation in J&K is improving, instead of raising more armed battalions, it would be beneficial for the educated unemployed youth, if this money is spent in the job oriented sector such as computer and software industries.

It is appreciable that the coalition government has opened number of degree colleges at district and tehsil headquarters and is still in the process of sanctioning more colleges as per the news reports but it will be advisable that before putting their plans on ground they must first create proper infrastructure.

During the present regime, of coalition government, much impetus has been given on the expansion of higher education at college and university level particularly in technical streams and no doubt this has resulted in the creation of number of teaching posts but there is a big question mark whether these institutions can help in reducing the unemployment graph in absence of any major national or multinational company doing business especially in Kashmir, where the highest percentage of jobs for educated youth is provided by the government sector.

In Kashmir, one does not find real business activities going on as the purchasing power of the people has gone down to a great extent and the slump in tourist and it's related industry caused due to the disturbances, only money from salary component mostly remains in circulation and the money received from hidden sources, by some people having vested interests also do contribute to the economic activities mostly in the real estates.

Since India is fast catching up WITH world market and with its economy growing stronger day by day the state government should take advantage of this situation and create environment for inviting big business houses of the country to establish their business in the state so that passouts of these newly created educational institutions are absorbed and do not go waste.