Srinagar, Apr 21: Jammu and Kashmir Civil Society Forum (JKCSF) Chairman Abdul Qayoom Wani today said that the pervasive additional charge “syndrome” and in-charge culture in the Jammu & Kashmir Education Department has severely undermined the institutional framework of the system.
In a statement issued, Wani said that this system has eroded accountability and compromised transparency, leaving key administrative and academic responsibilities in a state of flux.
The consequences are far-reaching. The career progression of teachers has been stunted, merit-based growth has taken a backseat, and the academic standards of students have suffered significantly. Decision-making has become adhoc, with little continuity or ownership, he said.
What is particularly concerning is the absence of any serious policy intervention to address these systemic deficiencies. Hollow slogans and cosmetic measures have replaced substantive reform, reducing governance to optics rather than outcomes, he also said.
As a result, he added the entire education system appears to be in disarray, functioning at the mercy of political expediency rather than educational priorities.
The long-term cost will inevitably be borne by future generations, whose prospects are being compromised by a structurally weakened system, the statement added.
