Srinagar, Aug 12: The Jammu and Kashmir Government is not coming clear on whether education has been declared as an “essential service” following prevailing situation in the Kashmir Valley, as announced by the Minister for Education, Peerzada Muhammad Sayeed, in Jammu recently.
While the announcement caused panic among the teaching and student fraternities, the Directorate of School Education (DSEK), Kashmir categorically refutes that they received any orders declaring education as an essential service. “So far we haven’t received any formal order in this regard. We only read in the newspapers that education has been declared as an essential service henceforth,” said a senior DSEK official, insisting not to be named.
The DSEK version ran contrary to the Minister’s claim that an order to this effect had already been issued. “Education has been brought under the ambit of essential services in Jammu and Kashmir to streamline functioning of government schools and enforce accountability in these institutions. An order to this effect has already been issued adding that the decision has been taken to enforce punctuality and accountability in the schools,” an official handout, issued on August 6, quoted Peerzada Muhammad Sayed saying.
While sources maintain that Peerzada’s announcement was just a “pressure tactic” to draw teachers and students to students to help break the ongoing crisis, officials said the announcement was nothing new. “Education has already been declared as an essential service. The minister just reiterated that,” said the secretary, Education, GA Peer, refuting that any fresh order had been issued by his department in this regard.
Interestingly, the announcement was made at a time when Kashmir was reeling under declared curfew following killing of 50 civilians in action by police and paramilitary forces. “It is unfortunate that the government is making such announcements just to target the teaching fraternity,” said Ghulam Rasool, a teacher. “The Minister should first declare civil secretariat work as an essential service and then pressurize teachers and students.”
Since the current unrest began in Kashmir in June, the Education Department has been issuing circulars after circulars asking teachers and students to attend schools. The circulars, however, drew flak from teachers who accused the government of putting their lives to risk by asking them to attend educational institutions in curfew. “I don’t think in such a situation, it is possible for either students or teachers to reach schools. There is no transport on roads. And you can’t ignore the fact that police or CRPF doesn’t honour the curfew passes of even journalists and medicos, not to talk of teachers,” said a DSEK official, wishing anonymity. “Forcing teachers and students won’t do. Our first priority should be to bring the situation under control. All other issues can be addressed later.”
Sources said government was using examinations and educational institutions as a tool to break the ongoing protests. “You see government has to maintain pressure on teachers and students to attend schools. And that is what it is doing,” they said. “But maintaining pressure should not be at the cost of risking the lives of teachers or students. So the government must wait for the situation to get under control and then make it mandatory for teachers to attend schools.”

Lastupdate on : Thu, 12 Aug 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
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