The recent developments in the long-drawn Elementary Teachers Training (ETT) institute scam in  Jammu and Kashmir are a stark reminder of the rot that can fester within the educational system when unchecked power and greed converge.

The order to frame charges against the ex-BOSE Chairman, along with several others, sheds light on a saga of corruption and exploitation that has tainted the educational landscape of the region for nearly a decade. A web of deceit and collusion between authorities and institute owners was orchestrated to siphon off resources and compromise the integrity of education.

The allegations of opening ETT institutes without proper authorization, syllabus, or infrastructure speak volumes about the brazen disregard for regulatory frameworks and the welfare of aspiring teachers. What started as a clandestine operation to mint easy money through the sale of degrees soon burgeoned into a full-blown scam, ensnaring unsuspecting students and tarnishing the reputation of the education system. The revelation that these institutes existed merely on paper, with no semblance of educational activity, underscores the audacity with which the perpetrators operated under the veil of impunity.

The failure of oversight mechanisms and regulatory bodies to stem this malpractice reflects systemic lapses that allowed such nefarious activities to thrive unchecked. The AK Sen Committee’s findings are a damning indictment of institutional complicity in perpetuating corruption within the education sector. Moreover, the sluggish pace of the investigation and the subsequent delay in bringing the culprits to justice have only exacerbated the disillusionment among the public.

Despite directives for further investigation and the formation of a SIT, the lack of tangible progress underscores the challenges in holding the powerful to account and delivering swift justice. The court’s decision to frame charges against the accused, coupled with the issuance of warrants for the appearance of additional suspects, signals a glimmer of hope for accountability and closure in this protracted saga. Culprits must get exemplary punishment. It is incumbent upon authorities to address the systemic loopholes and bolster regulatory frameworks to prevent similar scandals from recurring.

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