Aaqib Khan
Tangmarg, August 21 : A video showing students from Government Boys High School Kathepora, Tangmarg in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district engaged in physical labour within the school premises has gone viral on social media, drawing widespread criticism and sparking demands for accountability.
In the clip, accessed by the Kashmir News Service (KNS), several students can be seen working near the school gate, reportedly clearing the ground and lifting construction materials.
The video, which surfaced earlier Wednesday, triggered immediate backlash from locals, education activists, and parents, who accused the school administration of violating child rights and labour laws.
Many questioned why children were being used for menial tasks during school hours, instead of being in classrooms.
“This is not what a school is meant for. Children come here to study, not to do physical labour. The administration should have hired workers if any maintenance work was needed,” said a local resident.
Eyewitnesses claim the students were made to carry bricks and level soil near the school’s main entrance. According to locals, this isn’t the first time students have been engaged in such tasks. They allege that similar incidents have occurred in the past but went unreported.
“We strongly condemn this act. It’s not only unethical but also illegal. Action must be taken against those responsible,” said a parent of one of the students.
The issue also caught the attention of local NGOs and child rights advocates, who called on the education department to launch a thorough inquiry into the incident.
Zonal Education Officer (ZEO) Tangmarg acknowledged the incident but downplayed the concerns. “The students were not forced. They were voluntarily helping with some cleaning. There was no intention to exploit or burden them,” the ZEO told the KNS.
However, this statement did little to calm public outrage.
Locals have demanded an immediate investigation and administrative action against the school head and staff involved. Many feel the incident reflects deeper issues in school governance and oversight.
“This is a clear violation of educational norms and child protection guidelines. We demand accountability and preventive measures so such practices aren’t repeated,” said Nazir Ahmad, a social activist.(KNS).
