Ladakh is a high altitude mountainous region of India located in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The Ladakh region lies between the Kunlun mountain range in the north and the main Great Himalayas to the south. The Great Himalayas lying to the south forms a barrier to monsoon in this area. Due to this Ladakh is an isolated cold desert region. Altitude in Ladakh varies from place to place and is the main factor affecting local climate. The winter temperature touches as low as minus 30 degree (Leh and Kargil) and minus 60 degree in (Dras). The region of Ladakh normally remain land locked between November to June every year as Srinagar- Ladakh and Ladakh-Manali highways, which connect Ladakh with the other parts of the country, remains closed during the period because of snow and rigorous winter. Leh is one of the two districts of Ladakh region.
The present paper seeks to explore the challenges in the field of education sector in Leh district which has remained a neglected area in the region for many years. Much has been done to smoothen the rough edges of the educational process, yet it require great efforts given the geographical settings of the region, ignorance of parents, inadequate infrastructure, lack of schooling facilities in the remote areas, lack of qualified teachers or the vastness of this region which has a significant nomadic population too. The paper would also focus on the impediments in the way of quantity and quality education and would try to find out strategies which can help in the universalisation of elementary education in Leh.
Ladakh's education system economically unsustainable
Geographical terrain, climatic conditions and vastness of the area hinder implementation SSA Scheme
Problems in monitoring and supervision
No emphasis on vocational education
Ladakh, education, infrastructure, quality education
