Higher education a distant dream for specially abled students in Kashmir

This year, after Jasmina Bashir passed her Class XII with distinction from Srinagar’s Abhedananda School—the lone government-run special school for children with disabilities—little did she know she would end up at an Industrial Training Institute instead of a regular college.

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Jasmina, who has hearing and speech disabilities (deaf and mute by birth), tried her luck at gaining admission to a regular college in Kashmir. However, her family was informed that colleges in the region do not have sign language interpreters.

“My sister is very good at studies and wanted to pursue courses like a Bachelor’s in Science or a Bachelor’s in Arts,” said Asima Bashir, Jasmina’s sister. “I checked with several colleges in South Kashmir, but we were told they don’t have specialised educators.”

Despite Jasmina excelling in school, her future remains uncertain. She is now learning computers at the Industrial Training Institute. Jasmina is not alone.

Similar stories emerge from students who pass out from Abhedananda Home—the model higher secondary school in Srinagar and the only specialised school for children with hearing, speech, and visual disabilities.

Mudasir Ahmad, the school’s principal, told The Tribune that the students studying at the school are “extraordinary and talented.” He cited the results for the 2023-2024 session: five students secured distinctions in Class X, and five in Class XI and three in Class XII.

However, Ahmad lamented that students with hearing and speech disabilities are often unable to continue their education after completing Class XII.

“Right now, in the Valley, no college offers courses where specialised educators or sign language interpreters can teach these students,” Ahmad said.

This year, the school managed to get some students registered with Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU).

“But it is not helping because, again, there are no special educators in colleges,” Ahmad said, adding that most students discontinue their education in such situations.

Several institutes in different states offer undergraduate courses for students with disabilities. However, Ahmad pointed out that most of these students come from middle-class families and cannot afford to study outside Jammu and Kashmir.

“If the government appoints special educators in colleges, these talented students can access better education, and their futures can be bright,” he added.

For many students, this lack of support means shattered dreams.

Irtiza Nisar, a student, told The Tribune she had hoped to become a teacher or pursue a Ph.D.

Her father, Nisar Ahmad, said, “My daughter wants to study. We appeal to the government to employ special educators in colleges to save their future.”

On Tuesday, during a visit to Srinagar’s Abhedananda Home to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Srinagar Deputy Commissioner Bilal Mohi-ud-Din Bhat heard parents’ pleas to help students continue their education after Class XII.

“I immediately took up the matter with the Director, Colleges, and discussed ways to facilitate admissions for these students so they can continue their studies,” he said.

“There are certain limitations in course design for this category(hearing and speech disability), but I am confident these issues will be addressed after consulting experts. We are committed to resolving this concern in colleges as well as technical institutions,” he added.

Padma Shri awardee and disability rights activist Javed Ahmed Tak emphasised that no college in the Valley has sign language interpreters, preventing students from enrolling in higher education. “What I have seen is that most students drop out because it becomes impossible for them to study in regular colleges,” Tak said. “Only a handful manage to continue their studies, largely due to family support.”

Tak said he had approached senior government officials with a suggestion to designate one college with special educators, but no action has been taken so far. “I know at least 100 students who passed their Class XII exams but couldn’t continue their education in regular colleges,” he said.

Despite repeated attempts, Rashmi Singh, Administrative Secretary of J&K’s Higher Education Department, could not be contacted for comment