I completely agree that private schools should not force parents to purchase books from a particular shop. Parents should have the freedom to buy books from wherever they want, and no school should put unnecessary pressure on them. But while discussing this issue, I want to ask an important question to the Education Minister of Jammu and Kashmir: Are government schools providing enough books to their students, and are those books sufficient to meet their educational needs?
For the last ten years, I have observed a practice in government schools that deserves serious attention. When a student completes Class 4, the same set of books is passed on to a student in Class 5. Similarly, books move from one class to another, year after year. I have personally observed this practice, and it raises a serious question about whether every child is receiving the books they need. Free education should not mean that children have to depend on old books passed down from other students. Every child deserves access to the necessary learning materials.
What concerns me even more is that some government teachers are spending money from their own pockets to purchase books from private publishers because they feel that the prescribed textbooks are not sufficient for teaching their students effectively. I have met teachers and asked them how they manage their classrooms under these circumstances. Some explained that when they teach subjects like mathematics using only the government textbooks, they find the material insufficient for explaining concepts properly. As a result, they purchase books from other publishers to help their students understand the subject better. These teachers deserve appreciation for their efforts, but why should they have to bear this responsibility with their own money?
My concern is not to blame government teachers or create a conflict between government and private schools. In fact, teachers who spend their own money for the benefit of students deserve respect. My concern is about the system that makes such efforts necessary. If government textbooks are not sufficient, the authorities should review their quality and content. If enough books are not available, the department should ensure that every student receives them on time. Children from families who cannot afford additional books must not be left behind.
Whenever a new rule is introduced concerning private schools, there is considerable discussion about what private institutions should or should not do. Rules are necessary, and private schools must follow them. But the same seriousness should be shown in improving government schools. Private schools are not forcing every parent to admit their children there. Many parents choose them because they believe their children will receive better educational opportunities. Some private schools even have no vacancies for new admissions. Parents are making choices based on their expectations and experiences, and their concerns should also be understood.
As a small writer, I have only one genuine request to the Education Minister of Jammu and Kashmir: please pay attention to the availability and quality of textbooks in government schools. Ensure that every child receives the books required for their class, free of cost where promised, without depending on another student's old set. Review the content of government textbooks and listen to the teachers who work directly with children every day.
If we want to improve education in Jammu and Kashmir, we must not only question private schools. We must also examine our government schools honestly. Every child, whether studying in a government school or a private school, deserves quality education, sufficient learning materials and an equal opportunity to build a better future. Education reform should begin with the needs of children, not merely with rules imposed on institutions.

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