Srinagar, Sep 24: A proposal to make government schooling compulsory for children of ministers, legislators and government employees was rejected by the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Thursday, after members debated whether compulsory enrolment could strengthen the public education system.
The proposal came through a Private Members’ Bill introduced by Langate MLA Sheikh Khursheed Ahmad. The legislation sought to require children of public representatives and public servants to enrol in government educational institutions.
Defending the proposal, Khursheed argued that the condition of government schools could not be transformed through infrastructure development alone. He said greater enrolment, including of children belonging to the political and administrative establishment, was necessary to create a stronger stake in the functioning of public schools.
The government did not support the legislation. Education Minister Sakeena Itoo said the objective of improving government education was shared by the administration, but making school choice compulsory would not be an appropriate way of achieving it.
She said the government was continuing efforts to upgrade school infrastructure and facilities, while acknowledging that several institutions still needed further improvement. Such schools, she said, would be taken up for upgradation as part of the ongoing process.
Itoo also maintained that students and their families have the right to decide where they wish to pursue education. She cited the performance of students from government schools in competitive examinations, including NEET, as an indication that public institutions were capable of delivering quality education.
Rather than imposing a legal requirement on a particular category of families, the Minister said the government should focus on improving standards and building sufficient confidence in its schools to encourage people to choose them voluntarily.
Khursheed, however, maintained that the issue went beyond physical infrastructure and called for a broader policy examination of government schooling. He argued that if children of ministers, legislators and government employees were also brought into the public education system, it could generate greater accountability and attention towards its functioning.
The House ultimately voted down the Private Members’ Bill, leaving parents and guardians free to choose between government and private educational institutions for their children.
