Amid uncertainty, students move out to prepare for competitive exams

Srinagar: Amid the uneasy calm prevailing in Kashmir, several students preparing for various national level competitive exams are leaving for other states to continue their coaching classes.

Most of the students who had enrolled themselves in coaching centres in Srinagar have flown to Jammu and joined the coaching institutes in the winter capital to prepare for the upcoming competitive exams at various levels.

The move comes in the wake of the prolonged closure of private coaching centres in the valley particularly in Srinagar city.

The students were left in a dilemma amid the prevailing situation. All the private coaching centres in Kashmir continue to remain closed for the past month following the government of India decision abrogating Article 370 and bifurcating Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories.

“The students were in a dilemma due to the lockdown of coaching centres. They preferred to move to other places including Jammu to continue their coaching,” said Rayees Ahmad whose son was enrolled for preparing for GATE exams at a coaching centre in Srinagar.

There are over 550 private coaching institutes in Kashmir where more than 6000 students are coached every year for various national level and local competitive examination.

 As per reports, one of the leading coaching institutes in Srinagar, Akaash Institute, has shifted its students to Jammu and accommodated them in Jammu branch of the coaching centre. The move has been taken as a damage control mode to avoid waste of time and money of the students. “It was very difficult to take a chance and wait for coaching centres to reopen in Kashmir. We decided to send out our kids to continue their coaching for exams,” said Rashid Ahmad, a parent from Kupwara.