From pastures to classrooms

Fayaz Ahmad, a 29-year-old seasonal teacher in the high hills of North Kashmir's Bandipora district in Indian-administered Kashmir, often finds himself reflecting on his future. He currently holds a temporary teaching position provided by the government of Kashmir to educate the children of nomadic Gujjar and Bakarwal communities.

He strives to bring daily happiness to his students at these seasonal education centres, where he teaches migratory and nomadic children for up to six months each year.

Regardless of the weather - rain, snow, or sunshine - Ahmad has been running the seasonal school for the past three years. He sets out from home at 6:00 in the morning, knowing that the  children from the Gujjar and Bakarwal nomadic communities, just an eight-kilometre journey away, will be eagerly awaiting him.

During the summer months, these nomadic groups, which make up 11.9 per cent of Jammu and Kashmir's overall population, migrate with their families, sheep and goats to the highland pastures of the Himalayas. Their temporary dwellings consist of tents and kothas (single mud huts), providing them with shelter until they return to their permanent homes when winter sets in.

A ray of hope

Annually, more than 31,000 children from nomadic communities are enrolled in these seasonal schools, which are staffed by approximately 1,500 teachers appointed as seasonal educators.

Mohammad Mustafa (57), a nomad from Rajouri district, deeply values the role of mobile schools in his community's education. "These schools have become the foundation for our children's education," He told FairPlanet. His nine-year-old daughter, Aisha, a fourth grade student, shared, "I love learning in the school; the teachers are from our own community."

Mustafa also highlighted the pivotal role these schools have played in educating children, who have now become the first generation of learners in their community. "However," he added, "these schools continue to face challenges related to infrastructure and other essential facilities."

This traditional seasonal migration has been a way of life for these groups for centuries. In the past, children from the Gujjar and Bakarwal communities were deprived of basic education during their migrations.

Initially, the government did not appoint seasonal teachers, leaving these children without access to schooling. However, in 2003, the government launched an initiative to appoint seasonal teachers from within their own community for a period of six months. These teachers migrate with the families to the upper reaches of the Himalayas, providing education to the children while they tend to their livestock.

Before the establishment of these seasonal schools, the Gujjar and Bakarwal communities largely remained illiterate due to their six-month seasonal migration in the Himalayas. As families moved with their livestock during this period, their children were left without access to consistent education.

Seasonal schools now bring hope by enabling education during migration in these dense forests and challenging terrains. This change allows students to continue their studies amidst the high peaks, ensuring that their learning journey isn't interrupted by the traditional migration patterns.

Operating in makeshift tents in the Himalayas, these seasonal schools have not only faced the challenges of infrastructure but also human-wildlife conflicts.

"In recent years, climate change has affected us badly, wild animal attacks have increased on both our livestock and us," Yasmeena Gul, an eighth grade student,  told FairPlanet. "The green cover in Himalayas is diminishing in search of grazing lands, so we need to move towards upper reaches where cloud bursts, heavy rains damage our school belongings sometimes, the tents get washed away."

Saleem Khan (19) is another student who has found a glimmer of hope through the education provided by seasonal schools. Previously, while in the lush pastures, he was limited to following the same shepherding traditions that his ancestors had upheld for generations.

"I have enrolled in this school with the aspiration of gaining admission to a reputable college and pursuing a career in engineering," Khan said. "We don't consider these schools lacking in facilities because in the past we didn't have access to such opportunities. Having these facilities now means a lot to us."

Anwar Khan (29), a former student of a seasonal school who currently serves as a government employee in the Jammu and Kashmir education department, acknowledges the transformative impact of these schools. "These schools have transformed the lives of many, including myself," he said. "Out of our batch, five of us have become government employees." 

Reflecting on his school days, he noted, "While our school lacked sufficient facilities back then, in this modern era, it's crucial to equip these schools with modern technology to enhance the learning experience for students."

Long treks, Low wages 

"Initially, [the contract provided by the education department] was only for a four-month period, and the salary was 4,000 rupees (USD 47)," added Ahmad.

In 2020, the duration of the contract was extended to six months, with a monthly wage of around 120 USD. The new salary is still less than what a daily labourer earns in a month, even though teachers trek to high mountains and work full-time with students and families. Furthermore, the payment is only provided at the end of the period.

Once the contract ends, many of these teachers are forced to take up odd jobs, sometimes even working in the homes of our former students. 

Ahmad said that the six-month unemployment gap takes a toll on teachers and leads to mental stress. "Some of us resort to manual labour, while others work in the homes of the children we've taught. This gap disrupts the teacher-student relationship and impacts our dignity," he said.

Daily Fear of Attacks

In 2021, Khurshid Ahmed Dar, a seasonal education volunteer teacher from Central Kashmir's Budgam district, tragically lost his life in a bear attack while returning home after completing his teaching duties.

Recounting the experience of a bear attack on his seasonal school last year, Aurangzeb, a 16-year-old student from Rajouri, shared that life in the Himalayas is not easy for any child.

"The fear of being attacked remains every time as man animal conflict is increasing with every passing day, also natural disasters like lightning strikes, flash floods, cloud burst have also increased since the last five-six years."

"I aim to be a teacher in future and instruct the students of my community who have been deprived from education traditionally," Tabinda, another student, said. "Our teachers are role models for us, we did not know celebrities, but these teachers trek tough terrains everyday and reaching school on time where they did not have cellular or internet connectivity are more than celebrities for us."

Image by Tauseef Ahmad.