The Wealth Barrier in Classrooms

High fees, heavy textbooks, and selective admissions are turning private education in Kashmir into a privilege only some families can afford. Who gets left behind?

- Dr. Mushtaq Rather

A mother juggles two jobs in Anantnag just to pay her daughter's school fees.

She laughs nervously as she recalls the day she had to borrow money for some textbooks that cost five thousand rupees. “It felt like I was already failing before my child even stepped into the classroom,” she says.

She is not alone. Most middle-class families in Kashmir struggle to keep up with private school costs that seem to rise every year.

Private schools here have changed drastically.

A decade ago, respected educators ran small institutions focused on teaching and character-building. Today, investors dominate, bringing modern infrastructure, international curricula, and a promise of world-class learning.

Parents want the best for their children, and on the surface, these schools deliver. Digital labs, air-conditioned classrooms, and sprawling campuses suggest progress.

The reality, however, is more complicated.

Access depends heavily on wealth. Children from disadvantaged families, those with disabilities, or from marginalized communities often get left out.

The National Education Policy of 2020 emphasizes inclusion, but in most private schools, inclusion remains aspirational.