We are familiar with different kinds of phobias — fear of heights, fear of darkness, fear of confined spaces. In Kashmiri society too, we have local expressions for unusual fears. One such humorous term is “NeandPrah” — the fear or dislike of de-weeding paddy fields. But over the past several years, while working in the education sector, I have come across a new and disturbing phenomenon: “student phobia.”

This may not yet be recognised in psychology textbooks, but it is becoming increasingly visible in the schooling system of Jammu and Kashmir.The roots of this problem can be traced to the massive expansion of schools under the SarvaShikshaAbhiyan (SSA), launched with the noble objective of universalising education. Primary and Middle schools were opened in almost every nook and corner of the region. Simultaneously, a large number of Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT) teachers were engaged to run these institutions.

While the intention behind the policy was admirable, its implementation created several unintended........

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