Haknipora (Budgam), May 16: Established in 1970s, the Government Primary School in Budgam’s Haknipora village continues to remain shut since 2015 owing to “posting of non-local teachers in the school”.
According to the residents of Haknipora, the primary school was functioning normally when local teachers were posted here. “The student enrolment has decreased drastically,” said the residents.
“The non-local teachers who were posted in the primary school showed very less interest in teaching as a result the students stopped attending the school, one after another,” they alleged.
Nazir Ahmad, a parent, whose two sons were enrolled in the primary school said, “I was compelled to shift my children to another school following the posting of non-local teachers there.”
According to the locals, the apathy of concerned government officials proved detrimental for the closure of Haknipora School as no official has ever taken notice of the said problem.
“When the school was about to shut, I along with few other residents of Haknipora village visited Chief Education Office and apprised the officials about the issue,”said a local Mohammad Owais.
“We were assured by the officials that they will initiate steps to ensure smooth functioning of the school, but nothing has been done so far,” he said.
When contacted Chief Education Officer (CEO) Budgam, Rouf Ahmad Shahmari said that he had no clue about closing down of the school. “I will start an enquiry in this regard,” he said.
When asked about making the school functional again, Shahmari said, “I am ready to do so, let locals approach me.”
