With Kashmir Locked Down, Makeshift Schools Offer Education

Despite the lockdown, Kashmiris are coming up with ways to help J&K’s struggling students prepare for their exams.

A volunteer teaching students at a makeshift school in Jammu and Kashmir

(Photo: PTI)

Video Editor: Purnendu Pritam

Video Producer: Kavisha Manwani

Makeshift schools have come up in Jammu & Kashmir to help children who are unable to go to school catch up with their education amidst the lockdown implemented in the wake of Article 370’s abrogation.

These school sessions are being organised at homes, marriage halls and even outdoors. Educated youth and teachers have volunteered their time to teach students ahead of the coming examinations.

“After 15-20 days since the strikes started in Kashmir, we contacted all of our alternative units, friends and competitors and urged them to come together for this initiative so that our children don’t suffer any academic loss.”

Mohd Saleem Mir, Volunteer (Teacher)

“Shops are open in the morning and evening for about 1.5 hours, and it is possible to move around then. That is when my friends and I decided to take advantage of it and teach the students during these hours.”

Hilal Ahmad, Volunteer (Teacher)

These self-funded teaching sessions are continuing with the same syllabus as per the schools and are hyper-local. Even though it is an interim solution, these ‘schools’ are a a big help to the struggling students of Jammu & Kashmir.

(With inputs from Muneeb Ul Islam)