Kashmir's Hidden Classroom War

Behind the polished image of Kashmir's top private schools, teachers face low pay, silent harassment, and a suffocating culture of fear. Their quiet departures leave behind a question no one seems ready to face.

- Khurram Rasool

On a crisp morning in Srinagar this month, a teacher folded her lesson plans one last time and walked out of a school that many in Kashmir admire.

The institution is known for its excellent results, its glossy brochures, and its promise of building futures.

But the teacher wasn't leaving for better pay or a new job. She left because she no longer felt safe.

Her resignation letter mentioned workplace harassment by someone in a senior position. The letter didn't cause an uproar, but among teachers, it landed like a familiar ache.

The story moved quickly across staff rooms, WhatsApp groups, and conversations over tea. For many, it was not a surprising story. It was one they had lived but never dared to tell.

Kashmir's private schools have built their reputations carefully. They promise international standards, modern teaching tools, and creative classrooms.

They hire teachers with master’s degrees, NET/SET qualifications, and in some cases, doctorates.

Yet, the teachers who hold up these institutions say the system stands on the silent suffering of those inside it.

Most teachers, no matter how qualified or experienced, are paid between ten to fifteen thousand rupees a month. Even the schools that charge some of the valley's highest fees rarely offer more than thirty thousand.