Over 50,000 Students Affected by FAT Schools Order, Says PDF President

SRINAGAR: Peoples Democratic Front (PDF) President and former minister Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen on Sunday sharply criticised the government’s decision to take over 215 schools managed by the Falah-e-Aam Trust (FAT), calling it an “injustice with children” and an “assault on the educational future of thousands of Kashmiri students.”

Yaseen said the move would jeopardise the academic journey of more than 50,000 students and create uncertainty in the education sector. He urged the administration to revoke the order without delay in the larger interest of the children.

“This is an injustice to the thousands of children enrolled in these schools. The government should immediately withdraw this order. People may not support anyone acting against national security, but no one can accept decisions that target innocent students,” Yaseen said in a statement.

The School Education Department had recently directed district magistrates to assume control of the FAT-run schools, appointing principals from nearby government institutions to manage them until fresh committees are set up after “verification.” Yaseen cautioned that the move would disturb the existing academic environment and demoralise both students and parents.

Calling the decision “short-sighted and counterproductive,” the PDF leader argued that the government should focus on strengthening regulatory mechanisms, improving teaching quality, and modernising infrastructure instead of dismantling existing institutions.
“At a time when our youth need guidance, modern skills, and hope for a brighter tomorrow, the government should be investing in building capacity and confidence, not demolishing institutions that have shaped thousands of lives,” he said.

Reiterating his demand, Yaseen urged the government to engage parents, civil society, and other stakeholders to find constructive solutions that safeguard both national interests and the academic well-being of Kashmiri children.