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| Step In A Right Direction | | | The decision of the Jammu and Kashmir Government to strengthen access to senior secondary education and improve the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) at the higher secondary level in Jammu and Kashmir could prove to be major steps towards reducing dropouts at the critical transition after Class 10, particularly in underserved and geographically remote areas.
While enrolment at the elementary and secondary levels has improved significantly over the years, many students, particularly those belonging to economically weaker families and living in remote areas, face difficulties in continuing their education after matriculation.
Distance from higher secondary schools, transportation challenges, financial constraints and limited availability of streams and subjects can compel students to discontinue their studies. The result is not only individual educational loss but also a setback to the broader goal of building a skilled and educated society.
Improving the GER at the higher secondary level must therefore be viewed as more than an exercise in increasing enrolment figures. It should be part of a comprehensive strategy to ensure that every student who completes Class 10 has a realistic opportunity to pursue further education. Establishing or upgrading higher secondary schools in underserved areas can substantially reduce the geographical barriers that discourage continuation of studies.
The initiative should also incorporate a mechanism for identifying students at risk of dropping out. Schools, teachers and local communities can work together to track attendance and understand the reasons behind discontinuation. Counselling and timely intervention can prevent temporary difficulties from becoming permanent educational setbacks.
For Jammu and Kashmir, improving higher secondary education has implications far beyond classrooms. A better-educated youth population is essential for employment, entrepreneurship, social development and responsible citizenship. It can also help address disparities between urban and rural areas and ensure that geography does not determine educational opportunity.
The government’s focus on increasing access and improving GER is therefore a step in the right direction. Its real success, however, will depend on effective implementation, sustained investment and regular monitoring. Every student completing Class 10 should be able to look ahead to Classes 11 and 12 not as an opportunity available only to a few, but as a natural continuation of education. Ensuring that this becomes a reality would be a significant investment in the future of Jammu and Kashmir. |
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