What Happened to Learning in Kashmir

A generation of Kashmiri students is growing up tested, ranked, and exhausted.

- Dr. Mushtaq Rather

Each winter, living rooms in Kashmir turn into study corners, parents whisper about question papers, and children measure their moods by mock test scores.

Every conversation circles back to one thing: marks.

For years, exam scores have been treated as the only sign of success. But the real purpose of education is to build knowledge, skills, and values that help young people live meaningful lives.

The race for grades has replaced the joy of learning. Schools now reward memorization instead of understanding, and many children feel trapped under expectations they can't escape.

This pressure is visible everywhere. From Kupwara to Kulgam, young students spend long hours in crowded coaching centers. Parents invest their savings hoping that high marks will secure better futures for their children. The idea seems right, but it comes with a cost.

A 2022 survey by the National Council of Educational Research and Training found that 81 percent of Indian students feel stress and anxiety before exams.

This pressure is worse in Kashmir because of sudden disruptions, poor infrastructure, and limited access to digital tools.