Govt orders closure of coaching centres across Kashmir
Institutes closed for 3 months; education minister calls coaching centres ‘distractions’
SRINAGAR: The J&K government on Sunday ordered closure of coaching centres across Kashmir for next three months angering students, parents and coaching centre professionals and triggering talks that the move was aimed at stemming student protests over the Kathua rape and murder case. Education minister Altaf Bukhari’s description of coaching centres as ‘distractions’ has triggered furore across the Valley where the government shut down schools and colleges for most this month following protests initially against killing of civilians during gun battles and then over the Kathua case.
Bukhari announced the closure of tuition centres at a meeting of chief education officers, zonal education officers and principals of higher secondary schools in Srinagar.
“We had a meeting deliberating on how to strengthen the education system and we have come to the conclusion that there are some distractions to the students which is affecting the education system. One of the distractions is coaching centres, so we have decided to close them for the next 90 days. The order will be issued by tomorrow,” Bukhari told media after the meeting.
Parents say the government was taking revenge on students but the minister insisted that it has nothing to do with the protests. “Why would we punish students? It is the parents who are putting burden on their wards by sending them to schools as well as tuitions,” he said.
Bukhari said the emotional outburst of students was justified but that should be put behind now. “You protested and made your point. Now the case is at trail stage. Now it is time to go back to the schools. I am surprised that parents are worried about closure of coaching centres.”
Bukhari said students are under emotional stress after the Kathua incident. “We appeal parents that they help us to take our children back to the classrooms. They should spend some time with children because the kids are under emotional stress. Kathua (rape and murder case) is an emotional stress. If parents talk to children they can teach them that the case is now in court which will decide its outcome. Emotionally, they should counsel them,” he said. Asked to justify his reason for closing the coaching centres, Bukhari said they are a “distraction”. “Schools open around 10 am and the coaching centres continue tuitions till 11-12. Our teachers also get distracted. Coaching is only needed when school system is not good. Our school system is good. I assure parents that their children will become more intelligent than me in whatever school system they have sent them – private or governmental,” Bukhari said.