A major political storm has erupted after the Jammu and Kashmir government formally moved to take control of 215 schools that were being run by the Falah-e-Alam Trust (FAT), an educational body established by Jamaat-e-Islami, which is a banned organisation in India.
Following the ban, intelligence agencies began investigating whether more schools were linked to FAT, which was set up by Jamaat in 1972 with the objective of promoting education in J&amp;K. In a short span of time, the schools became widely popular.
While the ban on Jamaat was one reason for the takeover, investigations also revealed that several of these schools were being influenced by the outfit&rsquo;s ideology.
Findings by the intelligence agencies prompted the government to take this step. FAT, which ran these schools, repeatedly came under scrutiny for its association with Jamaat. Eventually, FAT was banned under the Jammu and Kashmir Criminal Law Amendment Act of 1983.
Despite this, many schools continued to operate under different arrangements. A review by the Board of School Education on June 16, 2022, noted that at least 10 FAT schools had already been merged into government schools. These were located in Kupwara, Baramulla, Ganderbal, Srinagar, and Anantnag. Over time, several FAT-linked schools shut down or transferred ownership to local individuals or sympathisers, though FAT still maintained a limited supervisory role.
The latest decision to take complete control followed fresh concerns. Authorities found that traces of Jamaat&rsquo;s influence still remained, and that the management body of the schools had expired. Security agencies flagged this issue, providing another basis for the takeover.
Security officials said, &ldquo;This is an important step and is in the larger interest of the students. The Jamaat ideology is not ideal. This ideology has been lingering on in J&amp;K for a long time, and the results were for everyone to see. The youth would take to the streets and pelt stones or join terror outfits. If the education system is aligned with the National Education Policy, then students will not have to suffer in terms of quality education.&rdquo;
According to the government, this move will safeguard the education of thousands of children, ensure stability, and improve oversight. Officials also said that these schools can now operate in peace without constant scrutiny from agencies.
The schools taken over are spread across Kashmir. Baramulla has the highest number with 53 schools, followed by Anantnag with 37, Kupwara with 36, Pulwama with 21, Budgam with 20, and Kulgam and Shopian with 15 each. Bandipora and Ganderbal have six each, while Srinagar has four.
In total, around 60,000 students and 4,000 teaching and non-teaching staff are associated with these institutions. The government has assured that both the education of children and the jobs of the staff will be protected.
The action was carried out under the J&amp;K School Education Rules of 2010, which were later amended in 2018 and 2022. These rules empower Deputy Commissioners and District Magistrates to assume management of schools.

J&K Govt Takes Over 215 Jamaat-Linked Schools

Move aims to safeguard 60,000 students, curb Jamaat influence,and align with NEP guideline

J&K Govt Takes Over 215 Jamaat-Linked Schools

Move aims to safeguard 60,000 students, curb Jamaat influence,and align with NEP guideline

August 23, 2025 | 19:55 IST