Kashmiri language textbooks were reportedly unavailable in government schools across the Valley up to the elementary level during the recently concluded academic session, even though exams for the subject were conducted.
Rights activist Rasikh Rasool Bhat criticised the School Education Department and the Board of School Education for their failure to provide the textbooks on time. “Kashmiri language textbooks were not available up to Class 8, which is highly unfortunate and deeply troubling. Teachers across Kashmir somehow managed to teach the subject through makeshift arrangements. We hope this gap is addressed in the next academic session,” he said.
Teachers said they were forced to depend on outdated materials, photocopies, and personal notes to complete the syllabus. “We had to prepare lessons ourselves without any official support,” said a teacher from a government middle school.
The issue has sparked criticism from educators, parents, and civil society members, who said that conducting exams without providing textbooks undermines the teaching of regional languages, which is a key component of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Parents have demanded an inquiry into the matter and urged the authorities to ensure that textbooks are distributed on time for the next academic year.
