In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the new academic session has once again begun under the shadow of a persistent teacher shortage, with locals terming the crisis a deliberate policy aimed at keeping the Kashmiri people educationally deprived while facilitating future Hindutva ideological manipulation.According to Kashmir Media Service, routine classwork resumed in secondary and higher secondary schools in late February after the winter break, while elementary classes started on March 9.

However, instead of a smooth academic start, most government schools, particularly in rural and far-flung areas, are grappling with an acute shortage of teaching staff, severely affecting the quality of education.Officials said higher secondary schools, especially in north Kashmir, are facing a serious dearth of lecturers and subject-specific teachers. The situation has worsened after authorities discontinued the previous arrangement of deputing teachers from primary and middle schools to higher institutions.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)