The Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) has finally cracked the whip on a malaise that has crippled the schooling system in the valley for years—chronic absenteeism of students. In a recent order, the DSEK has directed all schools to strictly maintain attendance records for classes 9th to 12th. In doing so, the directorate has struck at the root of a dangerous culture in Kashmir where classrooms are deserted while coaching centers overflow. This action is not merely a policy decision; it is a battle that has to be fought the reclaiming the soul of education in Kashmir. For far too long, coaching institutes have lured students away from their schools, reducing classrooms to empty shells. Many students, with tacit approval from parents, treat schools as optional and tuitions as the real deal. This mindset is disastrous. A coaching center can teach formulas and tricks, but it can never substitute the holistic learning environment of a classroom where students learn discipline, collaboration, debate, and problem-solving. These are skills that no coaching factory can impart in its students. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 emphasizes on competency-based education, hands-on activities, and peer engagement. None of this is possible if students skip school in pursuit of shortcuts which is what we witness these days. By tightening attendance, DSEK is not imposing a burden. Conversely, it is enforcing the foundation of quality education. If students are allowed to bypass classrooms, what remains of schooling except empty buildings and weakened institutions? The truth is harsh: the coaching obsession has not only weakened schools but also widened inequalities in Kashmir. Only those who can pay hefty sums access these institutes, while the rest are left behind. This parallel system is neither fair nor sustainable. Schools are the only democratic spaces where every student, rich or poor, sits under the same roof and receives the same guidance. Weakening schools by tolerating absenteeism is nothing less than a betrayal of the poor. There is also a moral dimension. Unchecked absenteeism is likely breed indiscipline. Hours meant for classrooms are instead wasted in idleness, street loitering, spending time in parks or remaining glued to smartphones. Worse, it makes students view shortcuts as smarter than hard work. Education then ceases to be about values and becomes a mechanical race for marks. Parents in Kashmir too must introspect. It is easy to blame schools and glorify coaching, but the fact remains: no coaching institute can replace the structured environment of school. If parents continue to encourage absenteeism, they are complicit in eroding their children’s futures. The DSEK’s order is, therefore, not just welcome—it is urgent. Schools must enforce it strictly, without compromise.