For decades, I have observed a troubling pattern in our schooling system here in Kashmir. Walk into almost any school and speak to teachers especially those in senior positions such as Masters and you are likely to hear the same refrain: “Science is what matters.”

Many of these teachers were trained in science, while many others have spent years teaching the Kashmiri language. Yet the message conveyed to children remains unchanged: science is essential; everything else is secondary.
It leaves me wondering: have we forgotten what schooling is actually meant to achieve.
A complete education is not built on a single subject. Our curriculum rightly includes Geography, Political Science, Economics, History, and English language skills alongside Science and Mathematics. Until a child studies and develops a sound understanding of all these subjects, their education cannot truly be considered complete.
Yes, after Class 10 or 12, students may choose Science or Humanities based on their interests, aptitude, or guidance. But even that distinction is no longer absolute. Under CUET, students seeking college admission are increasingly expected to demonstrate knowledge across a combination of Science, Humanities, and Languages. The walls between streams are gradually coming down.
There is another reality that we rarely discuss. In many of our most competitive government examinations such as UPSC, State PSCs, and other civil service and subordinate recruitment exams, success depends far less on Science than on the Social Sciences. History, Polity, Economy, and Geography form the backbone of these examinations.
Look at the people who have shaped our world: writers, statesmen, economists, social reformers, scientists, and even many successful administrators. Those who have understood and influenced societies have almost always possessed a strong grounding in the Social Sciences alongside their professional expertise. Scientific knowledge tells us how things work. The Social Sciences help us understand why they matter, for whom, and at what cost.
It is time we gave our children both.
Let us equip them with scientific knowledge, but also with an understanding of their country, the world’s history, geography, economy, political systems, and cultures. Only then will they grow into thoughtful, responsible citizens with the capacity to lead, innovate, and serve.
Science can build machines. But it is the humanities and social sciences that help shape the people who decide how those machines are used.
If we want the next generation of Kashmiris not merely to secure jobs but to shape the future of our society and nation, we must stop treating school as a race to produce engineers and doctors alone. We must treat it for what it truly is: the foundation for informed, capable, compassionate, and well-rounded citizens.

Email:------------------------ saleemanim1982@gmail.com