Closure of border schools

Hundreds of schools have been opened by the Government close to the LoC and International Border. These schools are physically located between zero to 2 kilometers deep from the border. They serve the need of local residents. The Government will not let border dwelling boys and girls suffer for want of education. However, owing to Pakistan’s obstinate violation of cease fire agreement and unprovoked firing and shelling across the border targeting habitats and structures on our side close to the border, our schools also have to become the targets of enemy’s attacks. This is a recurring situation. As such the issue needs to be addressed pragmatically.
After Indian army’s surgical strike on 29th September on eight launching pads of terrorists in PoK, the Government ordered closure of all schools very close to the border in the districts of Poonch, Rajouri, Kathua, Samba and Jammu. The step was taken as a precautionary measure against Pakistan army retaliating massively. Our policy planners had taken that exigency into consideration before the launching of the surgical strike. It is proved by the fact that Rajasthan and Punjab borders were also alerted.  Therefore not taking any risk particularly with the lives of hundreds of thousands of school going children, the Government took the wise and timely preventive measure. It would not matter much if the school buildings were targeted and even razed to ground as a result of Pakistani shelling as they have been targeting the civilian residential quarters also. But if the children were present in the school and shelling happened, that would mean a big disaster and loss to the nation. Therefore, as goes the proverb ‘prevention is better than cure’ the Government took the right decision and ordered closure of border schools.
However, since Pakistan refuted the Indian theory of surgical strike, she had no justification for any retaliatory action. In other words she had to eat the humble pie because admission of the surgical strike would have meant official confirmation on the part of Pakistan that terrorist camps were operative and now have been destroyed, something that she has been denying for last two decades. In this background, things began to cool down though intermittent firing and shelling in some locales across the ceasefire line have been recorded.
The Education Department felt that normalcy was limping back in the border areas and issued orders that border schools should reopen and normal teaching work should be resumed. Reports coming from different sources indicate that in Jammu and Samba districts, most of the border schools have been reopened and teaching work proceeds as usual. But in the districts of Poonch, Rajouri and Kathua, altogether about a hundred schools in Poonch, Mandi, Mendhar, Balakote, Rajouri, Nowshera, Sunderbani, Kathua, Marheen  and Hiranagar areas are still closed. In Poonch district out of the total 6532 schools are located within zero to 2 kms of border on Balakote, Mendhar and Mankote areas while 33 other schools are situated within the shelling range of Pakistani forces in Jallas, Degwar, Shahpur, Saujian and other areas of Poonch-Haveli  and Mandi.
Firing and shelling by Pakistani Rangers has not been silenced, rather it has increased after the surgical strikes. Authorities are not going to take any risk as far as the lives and safety of school going kids is concerned. We are of the opinion that safety and security of life comes first and education next. We appreciate caution and care of the Education Department that led to the decision of order ring closure of the border schools. As long closure has adverse impact on the educational career of the students, we would like to suggest to the Education Department that it should think how the deficiency can be overcome. Maybe extra classes or evening classes for the affected students in border schools could be conducted so that they are not put to disadvantage at the time of appearing in examinations to next class. These students also need financial assistance for engaging private tutor who helps them overcome the loss they suffer owing to closure of schools.
Apart from the constraints created by Pakistani firing across the border, students in Kashmir valley have suffered terribly on account of three month-long senseless agitation and turmoil and the consequential reckless calls by seditionists and traitors for a strike. The students have lost three months of teaching. In addition, the miscreants have embarked on the dangerous course of setting the school buildings on fire with the simple objective of creating disorder in the State. What Pakistan may spare of destroying education in our State, the seditionists and traitors in Kashmir are completing that. It is so sad that the career of innocent students is put at stake. This is inexcusable and those giving calls for strike shall have to answer the people.

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