19/08/2026
Kashmirs youth are not abandoning education by choice, they are being pushed into despair by a system that has failed to connect learning with livelihood.
According to NITI Aayog, admissions in J&K have declined by 44.8%. This is not merely a statistic—it is a serious social and economic warning.
When nearly 70% of our population is young and unemployment reportedly stands at 32%, the sharp decline in enrolment in higher secondary and higher education reflects a growing crisis of confidence. Young people are increasingly questioning the value of education in a system where degrees often lead to unemployment, insecurity and uncertainty.
Years of neoliberal policies, commercialization of education, shrinking public investment and flawed policies have deepened feelings of exclusion and injustice among large sections of our youth. Education, which should be a tool of social transformation and equality is increasingly being turned into a privilege for those who can afford it.
Behind these numbers are thousands of shattered dreams, struggling families and a generation losing faith in the future.
That is why we demand the repeal of the NEP 2020, which accelerates privatization and weakens the vision of equitable and accessible public education. We also demand that India spend at least 6% of its GDP on education, as repeatedly recommended by educationists and national commissions, to strengthen public institutions, expand opportunities and ensure quality education for all.
Education is a right, not a commodity. The future of our youth cannot be left to the market.