Srinagar, Dec 24: In a rare reversal of political judgment, a critic of former education minister of J&K, Naeem Akhtar has now turned as his admirer while acknowledging his reformative decisions in the education sector of Jammu and Kashmir.
The former education minister Naeem Akhtar in the PDP led government was criticised for his “rigid” and “controversial” decisions in the education department from 2015 to 2017. He faced opposition from the trade union leaders in the education department as well.
However, one of his critics, Mir Rafqat (Rafqat Sonawari) who is a young Political activist from Sonawari area of Bandipora and has served a Sarpanch in the past has now acknowledged that the decisions taken by the former education minister were based on principles.
He said the decisions were rooted in long-term institutional reform rather than political convenience while the pressure ultimately derailed measures aimed at accountability, quality education, and equitable opportunities for students in government-run schools. “For a long time, I counted myself among the harshest critics of former Education Minister Naeem Akhtar. I wrote not dozens but hundreds, perhaps thousands of tweets and Facebook posts against him,” Rafqat said.
He said during that time, the minister’s decisions appeared rigid, uncompromising, and disconnected from popular expectations. “Today, with the passage of time and on the basis of personal experience, I feel compelled to revisit and reassess that judgment. Naeem Akhtar firmly believed that J&K’s education system required structural reforms rather than cosmetic measures, particularly in government schools,” he said. He said his reassessment was not merely as a political observer, but as a parent of two children with a modest income, and as a former Sarpanch who has closely observed the functioning of government schools at the grassroots level. “Seen from this vantage point, many of the decisions taken by Naeem Akhtar during his short tenure now appear principled, reform-oriented, and far-sighted,” he said. He said the former education minister was focused on accountability, quality, and institutional discipline. “Such an approach invited resistance in a system long accustomed to convenience, patronage, and political interference,” he said.
Notably, the concept of rationalisation of teaching staff, de-walling of schools and introduction of Super-50 and winter tutorials were started and remained a success story of the government during that time. “In Bandipora district a school functioned for years with four teachers for just six students. Despite sustained political and local pressure, Naeem Akhtar decided to amalgamate the school with a nearby institution to ensure better utilization of resources and improved academic standards,” Rafqat recalled.
“Equally significant was his firm stand against politically motivated transfers in the education department. Despite pressure from within his own party, he refused to allow the education sector to become a transfer mafia and chose institutional integrity over political convenience,” he said. During the tenure of Naeem Akhtar, around 2400 schools were clubbed for meager or zero enrollment which resulted in surplus staff whose services were utilised in schools on a requirement basis. It was during his tenure that “ghost schools”- the educational institutions which had students enrolled only on papers but were physically taking classes in private schools.
“On a personal note, I once approached him seeking a transfer for my sister from Ganderbal to Bandipora district. He categorically refused. At the time, the decision felt disappointing. Today, I see it as a clear reflection of his commitment to principles and institutional fairness,” Rafqat recalls. Rafqat said that for personal benefits and short-term interests, some people, party workers, legislators, and leaders alike rose in opposition to Naeem Akhtar. “Today, as an individual and as a parent of two children, I have reached the conclusion that every major decision taken by him was aimed at safeguarding the interests of the middle and economically weaker sections of society, especially those dependent on government schools,” Rafqat said. “As a former Sarpanch, I acknowledge that government schools suffer from numerous loopholes ranging from lack of accountability to inefficient deployment of resources. Having witnessed these shortcomings firsthand, it is fair to say that Naeem Akhtar was uniquely positioned to address them,” he said. He said that Naeem Akhtar considered education as a sector where compromise causes irreversible damage. “He chose principles over pressure, reform over convenience, and institutions over individuals,” he said.
