Jammu’s education system is in turmoil today, September 26, 2025, as flood-damaged schools in rural areas like Kathua, Udhampur, and Doda face severe teacher shortages, prompting parents to protest outside the Directorate of School Education in Jammu city. August’s devastating floods, which submerged 120 schools and damaged infrastructure across 300 others, have left classrooms overcrowded and understaffed, with over 30% of teaching posts vacant in government schools. Parents, backed by the Jammu Parents’ Association (JPA), staged a sit-in, demanding urgent hiring and repairs. JPA president Anil Sharma said, “Our kids are losing months of learning – the government’s silence is deafening.”
The floods washed away books, desks, and blackboards in schools like Government Higher Secondary in Billawar, Kathua, where 200 students now cram into two makeshift rooms. Data from the School Education Department shows 1,200 teacher vacancies in Jammu division alone, with rural areas hit hardest – Doda has only 60% of its sanctioned posts filled. The crisis is compounded by delayed salaries for ad-hoc teachers, driving many to quit. In Udhampur’s Ramnagar, parents reported classes run by one teacher for multiple grades, with science and math often skipped. “My daughter hasn’t had a physics class since July,” said Rekha Devi, a protester from Doda.
The government’s response has been sluggish. Director of School Education Ashok Sharma promised a recruitment drive by November, but only 200 posts are slated, far short of needs. The recent JKPSC recruitment for 100+ Assistant Professors, announced yesterday, targets colleges, leaving schools ignored. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, addressing the issue on X, said, “We’re working on rebuilding schools and hiring, but funds are tight post-floods.” The JPA rejected this, pointing to Rs 500 crore allocated for flood relief, with only 10% spent on education. Rural schools, serving 60% of Jammu’s 1.2 million students, lack basics – no electricity in 40% of Doda’s schools, per a department survey.
Parents are also frustrated by the National Education Policy (NEP) rollout, which promised digital learning but falters without teachers or internet in flood-hit areas. In Kathua’s border villages, dropout rates are up 15% since the floods, as families prioritize labor over school. The JPA demands temporary teachers, mobile classrooms, and free textbooks, citing successful models in Assam post-floods. Meanwhile, urban schools in Jammu city, like Government Girls’ School Gandhinagar, face less damage but still juggle 50 students per teacher, double the NEP’s ideal ratio.
The protest saw 300 parents block Talab Tillo road, chanting for accountability. Police dispersed them peacefully, but tensions simmer. BJP’s Jugal Kishore Sharma blamed the NC-led government, saying, “Congress-NC delays are failing our kids.” NC’s Education Minister Sakina Itoo countered, “We inherited a mess – we’ll fix it, but it takes time.” The floods, which killed 22 and displaced thousands, left schools low on the priority list, with roads and hospitals eating up funds. UNICEF offered aid for 50 schools, but bureaucracy stalls delivery.
For Jammu’s rural kids, this is a lost year. In Doda, students trek 5 km to temporary classes in tents, while Kathua’s border schools face security fears post-Pahalgam attack. The JPA plans a bigger rally next week if demands aren’t met. Navratri’s festive spirit feels distant as parents fight for their children’s future. Education is Jammu’s backbone – without teachers, it’s crumbling. Share your thoughts on this crisis.