Private Schools Association grieves Srinagar school tragedy, calls for greater parental responsibility, moral education

Srinagar: Following the tragic suicide of 14-year-old Nouman Sofi, a student of Kashmir Harvard Educational Institute, the Private Schools Association of Jammu and Kashmir (PSAJK) has expressed deep sorrow and called for urgent steps to ensure emotional safety and moral grounding of students.

In a statement to Ziraat Times, G N Var, President of PSAJK, extended condolences to the bereaved family, the school management, teaching and non-teaching staff, and the student community. “This heartbreaking event is a moment for collective reflection. From the bottom of my heart, I extend my deepest sympathies to the grieving family and the school authorities,” Var said.

The incident has sparked outrage and grief across Kashmir, with student groups, parents, and educators expressing concern over a growing culture of psychological pressure, moral policing and lack of institutional sensitivity in schools.

G N Var underscored the urgent need for moral education, counselling support, and the creation of safe, non-judgmental spaces for students. “It is imperative that we create environments where children feel emotionally secure and heard,” he said, while emphasizing that homes and schools must foster open and empathetic conversations.

Mr Var echoed the sentiments expressed by Ziraat Times founder  Arjimand Hussain, whose article on Wednesday on the issue called for a societal reset and had warned against the dangers of emotional humiliation and institutional insensitivity, particularly in the name of discipline, and urged Kashmir’s civil society to acknowledge and address the “silent psychological epidemics” afflicting its youth.

Var also appealed to parents to adopt greater digital discipline at home, urging them to restrict late-night use of phones and avoid exposing children to social media and online gaming platforms. “Digital addiction is becoming a silent driver of emotional distress among children. Parents must not give phones to children after 9 PM, and must encourage healthy routines and emotional dialogue,” he stressed.

Highlighting the steps taken by the association, Var noted that PSAJK has recently organised awareness sessions on moral education, digital safety, and adolescent psychology, featuring doctors, counsellors, educationists and legal experts. “We are committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure children grow up in nurturing, informed and balanced environments,” he added.

While extending solidarity, Var urged the public and media to wait for the official findings of the ongoing investigation, warning against premature conclusions or sensationalism. “We are in a moment of grief and must let the truth emerge responsibly. The media has largely acted with sensitivity, but some voices have unfortunately resorted to speculation. Let’s not add to the family’s trauma,” he said.

Calling for stronger parent-teacher-school partnerships, Var said, “This incident must be a watershed moment. If we truly want to stop such heartbreaking tragedies, we must rebuild mutual trust between schools and families, invest in counsellors, and move away from authoritarian models of discipline.”