Srinagar, July 21 -- Nearly 119 government schools now have zero students. And yet, more than 200 teachers continue to draw salaries in these ghost institutions. Dropout rates at the secondary level are soaring. Even in schools that remain open, classrooms are half-empty, learning outcomes are falling, and trust has all but vanished.

The reasons are both systemic and social. Infrastructure gaps persist despite years of central schemes and big promises. Thousands of schools lack science labs, libraries, electricity, or clean toilets. In many rural schools, even a subject teacher is a luxury. Unsurprisingly, over 50% of Class 8 students in government schools cannot read a Class 2-level text, as per the latest ASER report. Only 63% can reco...