Education is the foundation of progress, and schools are the heart of every village’s future. In Talangam, Pulwama, a small village just five kilometers from the town, we witnessed the rebirth of our government school after years of being lifeless due to zero admissions. Yet, after three years of hard-earned progress, we, the parents and community, are heartbroken to see that government negligence has pushed us to once again withdraw our children from this institution.
A School Brought Back to Life
Three years ago, the government school in Talangam was nothing but an abandoned building. With no students enrolled, the teachers were deputed to other schools, and the classrooms echoed with silence. The future of government education in our village seemed bleak.
But the local Village Education Committee (VEC), with immense dedication, refused to let the school die. We knocked on every door, held meetings with parents, and encouraged them to trust the system one more time. Slowly, the parents, including myself, decided to bring their children back from private institutions and give the government school another chance.
When admissions restarted, the teachers returned, and additional staff was appointed. What followed was a remarkable transformation — children thriving in classrooms, participating in extracurricular activities, and making noticeable progress in their reading and writing skills. As chairman of the VEC, I saw firsthand how the school became a beacon of hope for the village.
The Bitter Truth
Unfortunately, this hope was short-lived. Despite the teachers’ unwavering commitment, the government’s indifference shattered the progress we had made. The most painful blow came when the school year ended in October, and students were promoted to new classes — yet by March 2025, not a single textbook had been provided.
Imagine children, eager to learn, spending their winter months without books in their school bags. Parents struggled to keep them engaged, while the silence from government offices grew louder. Repeated attempts to contact the Zonal Education Officer (ZEO), Chief Education Officer (CEO), and even the Director of School Education were met with indifference. No answers, no solutions — just delay after delay.
How can a village keep faith in a system that fails to provide the most basic learning materials? Education is not just about enrolling children; it’s about sustaining their learning journey. The lack of books left students idle, frustrated, and disconnected from their studies. For parents, watching their children slip away from the habit of learning was agonizing.
Forced to Walk Away
Despite our love for the school and our gratitude to the hardworking teachers who gave their best, we were left with no choice. By March, families began withdrawing their children and placing them back in private schools. It wasn’t a matter of choice but survival — we couldn’t watch our children lose another year of learning due to government negligence.
We, as parents and community leaders, feel betrayed. We took the first step in reviving the school, but the government failed to walk with us. If books had been provided on time, if the education authorities had responded to our concerns, this could have been a success story. Instead, it became a painful reminder of how systemic apathy can crush grassroots efforts.
A Plea for Accountability
This isn’t just the story of Talangam; it’s the reality of countless villages across the region. Government schools can flourish, but only if the authorities match the dedication of teachers and communities. We need accountability — for books to be delivered before the session starts, for officials to treat education as a priority, and for policies to be implemented with care and urgency.
We, the parents of Talangam, do not regret trusting the teachers. They stood by our children with love and commitment. The fault lies solely with the administration, whose negligence robbed our children of their right to education.
To those in power: We still believe in public education. But belief alone isn’t enough — we need action. And until that action comes, villages like Talangam will continue to lose faith in a system that repeatedly lets them down.
Let this article be a wake-up call. Let no other village suffer the same fate. Our children deserve better — and it’s time the government delivers.
Email:------------------------aasifdar46@gmail.com
