NEELUM (Kashmir English): An education crisis is unfolding in Neelum Valley where a girls’ primary school has been closed for four months now, leaving hundreds of students without access to basic education.
The schools were closure after the Department of Education, Neelum, issued the arbitrary replacement orders of teachers without consulting the local education committee.
Former DPO Azad Kashmir Naseer Ahmed Khan has condemned the government’s inaction, stating that the Prime Minister and Chief Secretary of Azad Kashmir must take immediate notice and legal action against the incompetent school administration, DEO, and AEOs.
Khan emphasized that the government’s failure to control institutions in Neelum has resulted in teachers’ absenteeism, despite a biometric attendance system, but, they receive salaries regularly.
Even though the teacher from Gahori Girls Primary School is on medical, DEO Neelum replaced another teacher 6 months after her appointment through her arbitrariness.
The situation is dire, with students attending school for 25 days a month only to return empty-handed. He warned that if the government fails to address the issue, students will be forced to take to the streets, blocking the Neelum road in protest.
The Azad Kashmir government’s inability to provide education to its citizens is a stark reminder of the challenges faced by the region. With a female-to-male enrollment ratio of 1.02 in primary schools, Azad Kashmir has made significant strides in education. However, the current crisis in Neelum Valley threatens to undermine these gains.
