Srinagar, Nov. 30 -- A mother juggles two jobs in Anantnag just to pay her daughter's school fees. School supplies

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...