The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — In a bizarre twist, the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) on Wednesday distributed Physical Education question papers of 11th standard to 12th standard candidates.

Hundreds of 12th standard candidates were left to lurch who had sleepless nights to prepare for the annual regular exams of Physical Education paper.

The news agency KNO spoke to some of the exam in-charges and candidates appearing in the annual regular exams of 12th standard who expressed concern about the lackadaisical approach of the Board.

One of the students said that the examination pattern of Physical Education was entirely different as was shown and notified by the Board. “Ironically, only two marks were taken from the 12th standard syllabus. Rest the question paper of 12th standard was set from 11th standard syllabus,” she said.

One of the exam in-charge said that students in the centre were crying as ‘even a couple of students fainted’.

Officials of JKBOSE said, “We have postponed the exams and will issue the notification in a while. We got the information of the issue and we have decided to reschedule the exams. New dates will be issued soon,” the official said.

Meanwhile, the School Education Department has constituted a committee to enquire about the distribution of wrong question papers.

Administrative Secretary, School Education Department, Piyush Singla accordingly accorded the constitution of the committee, comprising of Directors of School Education of both Jammu and Kashmir regions.

Singla said that they shall enquire into the incident of wrong distribution of 11th class question papers to 12th class students who appeared in the Board examination on March 20, 2024 by the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education.

It also said that the committee shall look into the circumstances of the cancellation of the examination and the responsibility shall be fixed on the supervisory and administrative level for the negligence.

“The committee shall co-opt any Chief Education Officer and other officer and submit its findings report to the Administrative Secretary within seven days,” it reads.

SRINAGAR — Jammu and Kashmir School Education Department has directed all the government educational institutes to display photographs of teachers to ‘prevent the practice of teaching staff by sending proxies on their behalf’.

According to the news agency KNO, Director of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) notified this in a communiqué to Chief Education Officers (CEOs) of the region.

An official at DSEK said, “As per the orders, it seems that there may be some teachers in the department who are sending proxies on their behalf. The concerned authorities may have accordingly issued the orders to curb such practices.”

“The third Chief Secretaries Conference is proposed to be held on December 27-29. The theme identified for this conference is ‘Promoting Ease of Living’ with a special focus on ‘Ease of Schooling’ to enhance access to schools and ensure the quality of service delivered,” it reads.

The communiqué further reads, “One of the key action points identified for the matter is ‘proxy teachers’—displaying of photographs of teachers in schools.”

DSEK accordingly has requested CEOs to take necessary action in this regard so as to saturate the key initiative.

“The photographs of all the teachers may be displayed in all the schools of your (CEOs) respective districts and provide an updated status of it by mentioning the total number of schools and total number of teachers covered under this initiative whose photographs have been displayed in the prescribed format,” it reads.

Pertinently, the orders were issued on the directions of the Ministry of Education (MoE) for the Government of India (GoI) on December 19.

Meanwhile, Director of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) Tassaduq Hussain Mir was not available for his comments.

SRINAGAR — The Directorate of School Education Kashmir has warned stern action against those private schools in Kashmir that demand capitation fees from the parents of the students. Pertinently, a capitation fee means any kind of donation, admission fee or contribution, or payment other than the fee notified by the school.

Director School Education Kashmir, as per the news agency KNT, in a communique has observed that various complaints from parents and civil society are pouring in regarding the demand for admission fees by private schools, which is totally against the law of the land and a punishable offence.

“Due to change in the academic session in Jammu and Kashmir in conformity with the academic calendar of the entire country as per National Education Policy 2020, the admission time in schools should begin in March and many schools are floating this norm as well,” he said.

The order reads that it has come to the notice that some recognized private schools charge a capitation fee at the time of admission and subject the students and their parents to screen tests.

It said, “No school or person shall, while admitting a child, collect any capitation fee and subject the child or his or her parents or guardian to any screening procedure. Any school or person if in contravention of the provisions receives a capitation fee shall be punishable with a fine which may extend to 10 times the capitation fee charged.”

“Any private school which subjects a child to screening procedure shall be punishable with fine which may extend to 25,000 rupees for the first contravention and 50,000 rupees for each subsequent contravention,” it warned.

The order further said, “It is impressed upon all the private recognized schools of Kashmir to desist from charging the capitation fee (admission fee) and other non-notified fees and avoid conducting screening procedures, and interviews of children for admission. In case of deviance from any school in this matter, action under rules shall be initiated to the extent of cancellation of registration of the said school.”

Directorate of School Education Kashmir has directed the nodal officers to ensure the implementation of the order in letter and spirit in their jurisdictions.

SRINAGAR — Directorate of School Education Kashmir has announced winter vacations in a phase-wise manner for educational institutions in Kashmir Valley.

For classes up to 8th standard, the vacations will be observed from November 28, 2023 to February 29, 2024 and subsequently, for classes 8th to 12th standard, the vacations will be observed from December 11, 2023 to February 29, 2024.

“The teaching staff shall report back to their respective schools on February 21, 2024, so that they remain available for making arrangements regarding preparation of ensuing examinations,” reads the order.

SRINAGAR — In a major development, the School Education Department has proposed to conduct departmental examinations through the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) to promote its employees.

Besides, the department has also proposed that the Jammu and Kashmir State Council of Educational Research and Training (JKSCERT) will set the syllabus for the departmental examination.

According to the news agency KNO, the department in a communique has said, “For promotion purposes, in addition to B.Ed, a limited departmental examination is proposed to be conducted by JKPSC and JKSCERT shall prepare the syllabus.”

Stating other proposed changes that a B.Ed degree has been added to the existing qualification of existing PG only as per NCTE guidelines.

“For fixing the seniority of a candidate, the date of passing higher qualification required for acquiring full eligibility for promotion be taken as the date of inclusion in seniority in addition to the date of appointment,” it reads.

The communiqué further states that the introduction of the post of Vice Principal equivalent to the number of the principals at HSS from the existing sanctioned strength of senior lecturers without any financial implications.

SRINAGAR — School Education Department on Thursday ordered a blanket ban on corporal punishment and other forms of child abuse in the educational institutes of Kashmir Division.

According to the news agency KNO, Director of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) in a circular said, “Distressing complaints are pouring in regarding corporal punishment to the students in schools as per the report received from IMHANS-K, resulting in mental health issues in school-going children.”

DSEK said that the negative consequences of corporal punishment not only hinder the learning and development of the affected children but also create an environment of fear and hostility within educational institutions.

The circular states that corporal punishment has an ill effect on the mental health of the child which is the cause of concern for the parents and the department.

“Whenever a child is assaulted, abused, exposed or neglected in a manner to cause physical or mental suffering by any person employed by or managing an organisation, which is entrusted with the care and protection of the child, the punishment would be rigorous imprisonment up to three years and fine up to Rs five lakh,” it reads.

“On account of the ‘cruelty’, if the child is physically incapacitated or develops a mental illness or is rendered mentally unfit to perform regular tasks or has a risk to life or limb, then imprisonment may extend up to 10 years,” DSEK said.

DSEK impressed upon all the school heads and teaching officials of both private and government institutions to refrain from inflicting corporal punishment on students in educational institutions.

“The deviations in this regard will be viewed seriously and the strict punitive measures will be taken against the violator as per the intensity of the abuse,” reads the circular.

DSEK instructed CEOs, Cluster Heads, Zonal Education Officers, Headmasters of High Schools, Headmasters of Middle and Primary Schools of both government and private and co-coordinators of recognised private tuition centres to ensure the blanket ban on corporal punishment and other forms of abuse as envisaged in Guidelines for Eliminating Corporal Punishment in Schools by NCPCR in all the private and government schools in their respective domains.

Excerpts issued by DSEK

Physical Punishment

Causing physical harm to children by hitting, kicking, scratching, pinching, biting, pulling the hair, boxing ears, smacking, slapping, spanking or with any implement cane, stick, shoe, chalk, duster, belt, whip, giving electric shock etcetera.

Making children assume an uncomfortable position like standing on a bench, standing against the wall in a chair-like position, standing with the schoolbag on the head, holding ears through legs vern; kaanpakdi, kneeling etc.

Forced ingestion of anything (for example: washing soap, mud, chalk, hot spices etc.

Detention in the classroom, library, toilet or any closed space in the school.

Mental Harassment

Sarcasm that hurts or lowers the child's dignity.

Calling names and scolding using humiliating adjectives, intimidation.

Using derogatory remarks for the child, including pinning slogans.

Ridiculing the child with regard to his/her background or status or parental occupation or caste; Ridiculing the child with regard to his/her health status or that of the family, especially HIV /AIDS and tuberculosis; Belittling a child in the classroom due to his or her inability to meet the teacher's expectations of academic achievement.

Ridiculing a child with developmental problems such as learning difficulty or a speech disorder, such as stammering or speech articulation disorder.

Punishing or disciplining a child not recognizing that most children who perform poorly in academics are actually children with special needs. Such children could have conditions like learning disability, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, mild developmental delay etc.

Using punitive measures to correct a child and even labelling him or her as difficult; such as a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder who may not only fare poorly in academics but also pose a problem in the management of classroom behaviours.

‘Shaming’ the child to motivate the child to improve his performance; Ridiculing a child with developmental problems such as learning difficulty or a speech disorder, such as stammering or speech articulation disorder.

‘Sexual abuse’ of any kind of corporal punishment of any nature is not acceptable under any circumstances.

Brutal treatment of students in the name of reform can never be accepted as an excuse, as it can never inculcate good discipline and good habits in them.

On the contrary, indulgence in violence by teachers is bound to set a very bad example for the students. So, preventive measures need to be applied.

Preventive measures issued by DSEK

Emphasising Importance of Rules: Students should be given clear ideas about the importance of rules again and again. They should be made aware of the existing rules. There should be no violation in this regard.

Positive Recognition: It includes rewarding good behaviour and curtailing negative behaviours. Some rewards can be verbal while some can be symbolic recognitions.

Recognise That Child Needs Help and No Punishment: This fact should be applied in all critical situations. Unwanted behaviour on the part of a student is an indication that the student needs guidance (and not punishment).

Healthy Relationships: Healthy relationships should be promoted among students, teachers and staff.

To stop all types of negative behaviours towards the students inside or outside the class. Even under inevitable and unprecedented circumstances, positive engagement or preventive measures are to be adopted instead of the use of force to discipline the students.

SRINAGAR — The Jammu and Kashmir School Education Department on Thursday said that it will declare the results of the annual regular exams of 10th and 12th standard by the second week of June.

According to the news agency KNO, Principal Secretary, School Education Department, Alok Kumar said, “By the second week of June, we will announce results of 10th and 12th standard exams in accordance with the timeline we have set.”

He said, “As we have conducted exams this year in sync with the national academic calendar, results have been compiled and will be announced soon.”

The annual board exams of classes 10th to 12th in hard zones were conducted from April 8. Pertinently, the JKBOSE had identified 444 such schools in both divisions of Jammu and Kashmir for which annual regular examinations were held in the month of April instead of March.

Besides, the Board has also declared the whole Leh district of Union Territory of Ladakh as a hard zone and had accordingly directed to conduct the exams in the month of April. It had also said that the annual regular examination of hard zones or such areas of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh shall be held in the month of April.

“Result of annual regular examination of Kashmir Division and Jammu division and Union territory of Ladakh including hard zones shall be declared simultaneously in the month of June,” JKBOSE has said in a notification.

This is for the first time that JKBOSE conducted exams in March-April sessions instead of November-December.

SRINAGAR — After being arrested by police, the government has now suspended a school principal for allegedly ‘harassing’ girl students in Srinagar outskirts.

The accused has been identified as Shabir Ahmed Mir, a resident of Zadibal Srinagar, who was posted as principal at Gund Hasi Bhat School in Srinagar outskirts.

Initial reports said that the accused principal was making unnecessary phone calls during night hours to girl students, forcing them to indulge in murky chats. A couple of students informed their parents who approached the police and got the licentious accused arrested.

Reports further added that some of the female students also accused him of stalking and even threatening them of dire consequences if they reveal it to anyone.

The school principal is currently in police custody and formal FIR vide number 31 stands registered against him under sections 354D (stalking), 294 (obscene act in a public place), and 506 (criminal intimidation) at Police Station Shalteng.

Meanwhile, taking note of the incident, Education Department has placed the accused teacher under suspension. An inquiry has been ordered and the accused has been attached to the Directorate of School Education.

The inquiry team has been directed to complete its time-bound report with proper recommendations.

SRINAGAR — The Jammu and Kashmir School Education Department on Friday announced summer break for all government and private schools of Jammu division from June 8 to July 22.

According to the news agency KNO, Director of School Education Jammu (DSEJ) said that all the government and recognized private schools falling in the summer zone of Jammu division shall observe summer vacation from June 6, 2023 to July 22, 2023.

The director further ordered that all teachers shall remain available for any online guidance of students during the vacation period.

“Any default on the part of the head of the schools or teaching staff in observance of the above schedule shall attract action under rules,” DSEJ said.

SRINAGAR — The Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) is mulling action against private schools prescribing textbooks for students other than books prescribed by the J&K Board of School Education (JKBOSE).

As per the news agency KNO, the move comes after it came to the fore that some private schools were prescribing textbooks from private publishers to students from Class 6th onwards, in violation of government orders.

In the wake of the complaints, the DSEK, as per the official communication addressed to Secretary JKBOSE, has sought the list of schools from JKBOSE to initiate "punitive action" where the school management has prescribed unapproved curriculum or textbooks from private publications for classes 6th, 7th and 8th against the instructions of J&K Board of School Education.

As already reported, the J&K Government has made it mandatory for all the private schools to prescribe JKBOSE-published textbooks for students from classes 6th to 8th from the current academic session.

The Board has warned the private schools of action if the directions will not be implemented on the ground.

Already, all the JKBOSE-affiliated private schools prescribe JKBOSE-published textbooks for students from classes 9th to 10th.

SRINAGAR — The School Education Department on Thursday said that the new academic session will commence soon after the culmination of the annual regular board examinations.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of an event, Director School Education Kashmir, Tassaduq Hussain Mir as per the news agency KNO said the new academic session will begin soon after the culmination of ongoing exams.

"We are prepared for the new academician session and we have set the timelines too," he said.

On being asked about transportation fees for those months during which schools were closed, he said private school students are not liable to pay for services they did not avail of during those months.

He said that earlier the academic session used to end in December but now it has changed to March. "The ongoing session will end after the culmination of annual regular board exams."

About the violation of government guidelines for charging admission fees by some private schools, Mir said wherever they will get written complaints, they will act tough against the violators.

He further said it has not given any registration to private coaching centers. "I don't know what is their mechanism for charging the fee."

SRINAGAR — More than 13,000 private and government schools of Kashmir valley and winter zones of Jammu division are all set to resume academics on Wednesday following a three-month-long winter vacation.

According to the news agency KNO, the School Education Department on November 25 announced the closure of schools for winter vacations in a phased manner in Kashmir and winter zones of Jammu division from December 1, 2022 to February 28, 2023.

The vacations for primary level classes up to 5th standard were observed from December 1 to February 28 while for the 6th to 8th standard, the closure of schools for winter vacations was observed from December 12 to February 28.

Likewise, in the case of secondary and senior secondary level students, vacation was observed from December 19 to February 28.

According to official figures, a total of 10,851 government and 2550 private schools are functioning in the Kashmir division.

In the meantime, the School Education Department on Tuesday changed school timing in Srinagar city from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

The Under Secretary to the Government for School Education Department said, “I am directed to convey the approval of the department for change of school timings in Srinagar city from 9 AM to 2 PM from March 1.”

SRINAGAR — School Education Department on Wednesday said that a high-level committee at the University of Kashmir has categorically resolved that degrees acquired by the candidates in Science subjects via distance mode are neither eligible for appointment as lecturers at Plus-2 level nor for admissions to M.Phill or Ph.D programmes.

Principal Secretary, School Education Department, Alok Kumar said this in reference to the petitions filed by different respondents seeking inclusion in the seniority list of the Environmental Science discipline and for promotion to the post of Lecturer of Environmental Sciences.

The news agency KNO has learnt that the department has said, “It has been found that the claim of the petitioners does not merit consideration based upon the observations and findings and as such the claim of the petitioners for their inclusion in the seniority list of Environmental Science discipline and consequent claim for promotion to the post of Lecturer Environmental Sciences is hereby rejected.”

“Environmental Sciences falls within the category of Science Stream where practical is the part of the curriculum and therefore such degrees are necessary to be obtained through regular mode only unless such courses are allowed specifically through Distance Mode by Distance Education Council (DEC) or All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE),” reads the judgement.

It also said that the issue regarding the validity of degrees acquired through distance mode was taken up with the University of Kashmir.

In reference to the referral, the Department conveyed, “The University in this regard has categorically communicated the decision regarding the distance mode degree, it is resolved by the high-level committee that candidates holding a master's degree in Science subjects awarded through the distance mode from other universities are neither eligible for appointment as lecturers in the Higher Education Department (Plus-2) level nor for admissions to the M.Phill or Ph. D programmes.”

Stating the reason why the degrees cannot be pursued, KU has said, “The laboratory component which forms an indispensable part of the curriculum and requires continuous guidance for the whole period of 4 semesters is not given its due importance in the distance mode learning.”

“Hence in light of the facts, it is clearly evident from the records and rules that the distance mode degree of PG in Ecology and Environment is neither recognized by the University nor equivalent to the corresponding PG Degree of Environmental Science, University of Kashmir, Srinagar,” it reads.

SRINAGAR — The J&K Government on Monday renamed 52 public schools and five other infrastructures after those cops and security forces who lost their lives in the line of duty.

Besides, the government also renamed one infrastructure in the name of Makhan Lal Bindroo—a pharmacist who was shot dead at his establishment in Srinagar.

According to the news agency KNO, Secretary to Government Piyush Singla said, “Sanction is accorded to the naming of 57 infrastructure and assets after martyrs and eminent personalities.”

Previously, the government had renamed scores of educational establishments and roads after some eminent personalities and the security forces who lost their lives in the line of duty. Besides, the government had ordered necessary steps to be taken for amending the records for effecting the changes.

According to the order, the School Education Department has been asked to take immediate necessary steps including amending records for effecting the changes.

“Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, and Jammu shall personally monitor the naming of infrastructure assets in their respective divisions while the Deputy Commissioners shall ensure that appropriate events are held in connection with the naming of these infrastructures and assets,” it reads.

SRINAGAR — The School Education Department (SED) has started verification of all the appointments made in 2009 and other years to ascertain the genuineness of the appointments made in the department.

The move comes days after a teacher from Budgam district was terminated from services as he had managed his entry into the department on fake and forged appointment orders.

In wake of this, the Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) has asked all chief education officers (CEO) to scrutinize the appointment orders of 2009 produced by the appointees.

Meanwhile, chief education officer Srinagar has asked all DDOs to verify the genuineness of all 2009 and other appointees.

"As directed by the Director School Education, Kashmir all the DDOs are hereby directed to verify the genuineness of all 2009 and other appointees by reference to original orders issued by the Directorate of School Education and selection list of JKSSB," reads the order.

The order states the documents should reach the office of CEO Srinagar by or before February 4, 2023, duly supported by relevant documents confidentially.

SRINAGAR — The School Education Department is either ‘misleading the public or twisting the facts’ pertaining to the Postgraduate degrees obtained by teachers through Distance mode in the Science stream, particularly in the discipline of Environmental Sciences.

The department in the past one-and-a-half months has issued several orders which are completely contradictory to each other—‘raising a question on the standard and professionalism of the School Education Department.’

One of the aggrieved teachers, who possess a valid Post Graduation degree in Environmental Sciences, told the news agency KNO, “Some of the in-service teachers have fraudulently submitted documents of invalid degrees and claimed promotions in the department by crushing the genuine and deserving teachers.”

He said, “Our promotion was due a long ago. However, some scammers managed degrees from tuck-shops without any proper verification by the concerned authorities of the department.”

“The government took a good step by demoting such scammers with a re-verification process. However, we want the government to re-verify such degrees of all the in-service teachers, especially in Environmental Sciences,” the teacher said.

In the latest development, the Joint Director of Elementary Education for the Directorate of School Education Kashmir was attached a week after he issued orders regarding the invalidation of the Postgraduate degrees obtained through Distance mode in Science stream, particularly in Environmental Sciences.

Earlier, in November end 2022, the Principal Secretary of School Education Department in a case that was filed before the Central Administrative Tribunal had issued the same directives as the Joint Director. Now, the question is why the Joint Director was attached by the department over what they call ‘mis-presentation of the facts and department's stand regarding PG degrees acquired through Distance mode’ when both orders correspond to each other.

Pertinently, the Human Resource Management section of the School Education Department on November 29, 2022, said that there was a petition filed before the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) pertaining to degrees obtained through Distance mode in Environmental Sciences, saying as to whether the degree obtained in Ecology and Environment can be treated at par or equivalent to the degree obtained in Environmental Science, and whether degree obtained through Distance mode in Environmental Sciences can be considered valid for the purposes of seniority and promotion and whether the degree obtained without proper permission from the competent authority can be considered valid for the purposes of seniority and promotion.

Principal Secretary, School Education Department in the CAT order has said, “In view of the settled legal position, the degree obtained by the in-service candidate without obtaining proper permission from the competent authority cannot be reckoned valid, particularly for the purposes of seniority and promotion.”

“During the course of examination, it has been found that the petitioners have acquired their degrees in the field of Ecology and Environment which is not equivalent to and does not correspond to the degree obtained in the field of Environmental Sciences as has been deliberated upon herein. As such, the petitioners including similarly situated cases cannot be considered for the seniority and promotion or otherwise to the post of Lecturer in Environmental Sciences based upon such degrees,” it reads.

It also states, “It has been further found from the records that the petitioners have obtained their degrees through Distance mode which cannot be considered for the purposes of seniority and promotion or otherwise to the post of Lecturer in Environmental Sciences based upon the observations and deliberations made herein.”

Principal Secretary had also said, “It has also been found that most of the petitioners as shown herein above have obtained such degrees without obtaining proper permission from the competent authority as such the higher qualification acquired by the petitioners in contravention to the rules and regulations cannot be considered for the purposes of seniority and promotion or otherwise to the post of Lecturer in Environmental Sciences based upon the observations and deliberations made herein above.”

He said, “There are three categories of masters, teachers in School Education Department in the discipline of Environmental Science. One category of incumbents is those who have pursued higher education qualifications viz Post Graduation Degree in Environmental Science or in Ecology and Environment. The category of incumbents who have acquired higher qualifications in Ecology and Environment are claiming that their degrees be treated at par with those incumbents who have obtained their degrees in Environmental Sciences for the purposes of seniority and promotion.”

It also states that the second category of incumbents are those who have obtained their degrees in Environmental Science or in Ecology and Environment through Distance mode either in Environmental Science or in Ecology and Environment and this category is claiming to consider their higher degrees obtained through Distance mode for their seniority and promotion to the next higher post.

“The third categories of incumbents include those who have pursued their higher qualification degrees in contravention to Jammu and Kashmir Leave Rules of 1979 i.e. without obtaining proper permission from the competent authority in this regard,” reads the order.

The Principal Secretary had said, “In view of the above settled legal position, the degree obtained by the in-service candidate without obtaining proper permission from the competent authority cannot be reckoned valid, particularly for the purposes of seniority and promotion."

“Therefore, after having considered the cases of petitioners in compliance with the judgment order, it has been found that the claim of the petitioners does not merit consideration based upon the observations and findings and as such the claim of the petitioners for their inclusion in the seniority list of Environmental Science discipline and consequent claim for promotion to the post of Lecturer Environmental Sciences is hereby rejected,” he said.

SRINAGAR — Unlike past years, the school students of Kashmir division won’t be turning to tuition centers to cover a portion of their syllabi for the new academic session as the students are yet to appear in the annual regular examination of the session that has been going on for more than a year.

The dilemma struck the students at that time when the government had decided to shift the academic session from November-December to March.

The school students informed the news agency KNO that they are confused as to what they have to study during the winter vacation that began on December 19. “We are in the same academic session that has been going on for more than a year.”

One of the students, Farhaan said, “We don’t know whether we have to prepare for the examination or join any tuition center for the new class! Usually, we would join tuitions during the winter vacations which would reduce the burden of covering syllabi in schools.”

He said that the students are studying the same textbooks which they have even revised multiple times. “We have done three revisions of the existing textbooks but we are confused about what is in store for the students.”

One of the government school teachers told KNO, “Earlier, we would assign students the winter work to complete during winter vacations. This year, we too were confused as to what we should assign students.” He said, “The confused students are continuously calling the teachers to clarify what they need to study.”

Meanwhile, officials of the School Education Department said that they will try to compensate for the academic loss that students have suffered during the COVID-19 lockdown. “We are trying to bridge the losses that students have suffered from the past three years,” the official said.

Pertinently, the government had decided to shift the academic session for all classes from November-December to March to bring uniformity to the national calendar.

PULWAMA — Abandoned school buildings in Gudoora and Tral areas of south Kashmir's Pulwama district have become a hub of drug addicts with residents of these areas demanding the attention of higher-ups.

Locals from Gudoora, Pulwama told the news agency KNO that due to low roll, the middle school in Gudoora was merged with a high school, leaving the building of the middle school vacant. They said that this building continued to be used for ill activities by some people as the School Education department has failed to provide any watch and ward to the building.

“In the premises of the buildings, one can find empty bottles of codeine (the most abused prescription drug) and empty strips of drugs used by the addicts, who come in the evening hours mostly and involve in drug abuse in this abandoned school,” the residents said.

The school building is now in complete shambles with broken windows and doors which apparently looks like a ghost house.

Locals said that there is a health center in the area where there is very little space and the government must shift the health center to the abandoned building.

Similarly, a primary school in Takia Razakh Shah was clubbed, leaving the building of the school vacant, which according to locals is also being misused.

Locals said that it has become a hub of drug addicts and stray dogs due to which locals are suffering. “We have brought this issue to the notice of concerned authorities several times but to no avail,” locals said.

Locals from both Gudoora and Takia Razakh Shah requested higher-ups to look into the matter at the earliest so that necessary steps can be taken in this regard.

Meanwhile, an official said that they have already taken up this issue with higher-ups and they expect a decision on it soon.

Despite repeated attempts, CEO Pulwama wasn't available to comment on the issue.

SRINAGAR — Ending uncertainty on the issue, the government on Friday ordered that all elementary class examinations will be held in March next year.

In early September this year, the authorities had announced that the classes 10 and 12 Board examinations conducted by the J&K Board of School Education (JKBOSE) in Kashmir from this academic session shall be conducted along with the Jammu division in March instead of October-November to have a 'uniform academic calendar.' However, there was uncertainty if all other exams will also be held in March and the same has now ended.

“In continuation to Government Order No. 2074-JK(Edu) of 2022; Dated: 31.08.2022, sanction is hereby accorded to the implementation of Uniform Academic Calendar including conduct of annual examinations in March-April session for classes upto 9 standard in all the Government and Government recognized Private Schools of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir,” reads an order by Principal Secretary to the Government, School Education department.

The order said, “It is further ordered that new admissions shall commence from the month of March of the calendar year.”

The announcement comes a day after the Director of School Education Kashmir, Dr Tassaduq Hussain told the news agency GNS that the decision in this regard will be announced within two days.

SRINAGAR — Amid confusion regarding the exams of lower class students, the School Education Department on Thursday said that it will most likely conduct it in March and official orders in this regard are expected this week.

According to the news agency KNO, the Director of School Education Kashmir said, “Most likely, all the exams from classes 1-9 are going to be held in the month of March.”

“We have submitted our proposal to the government and we expect the official orders within one or two days,” he said.