SRINAGAR: In view of the prevailing situation, the State Board of School Education (BOSE) has decided to reschedule the annual examination for class 10th and 12th in Kashmir division.
According to a notification issued by BOSE, the examination for both 10th and 12th classes in Kashmir division would be conducted in second week of November 2016.
Pertinently, as per the previous schedule the examination for class 10th was to be conducted in the first week of October 2016 while for class 12th the examination was to be conducted in the third week of October 2016.
“We shall have to complete the process of conduct of examinations and declaration of results well in time so that the students can prepare for and appear in various competitive examinations including NEET and JEE for admission to various professional courses, both within and outside the State,” Minister for Education, Naeem Akhtar said.
Pertinently, in a significant decision, the State Government has also decided to review the policy of ‘No-Detention’ at the elementary level to check the deterioration in the quality of education.
The State’s Education Department has decided that, henceforth, SIE will conduct T1 and T2 exams from class 5th to 9th with external evaluation while BOSE will conduct T2 exam of class 11th. However, the evaluation for all these examinations will be supervised by SIE while the cluster Principals will supervise assessment, evaluation and remedial teaching.
According to senior officials of the Education Department, during the course of discussions on the “New Education Policy” the stakeholders opined that the present system of allowing the child to reach class 9th without any detention irrespective of performance in examination has resulted in lack of motivation to perform amongst students along with poor attendance and indiscipline. The stakeholders argued that the No- Detention policy has proved to be discouraging even for teachers in the absence of evaluation of their performance resulting in lack of quantification of their achievements.
According to these officials, also it was felt that the “No-Detention” policy has been misunderstood to imply ‘no examination’ when on the other hand it is concomitant upon proper and rigorous implementation of Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) which, as a diagnostic tool necessitates both, assessment for learning and assessment of learning.
In view of the observations of the stakeholders, the State Government recognizes that a balance has to be struck between the concerns regarding quality and learning levels and children’s motivation and stress. Accordingly, it has been decided to review the implementation of CCE, with particular focus on regular assessment, evaluation and remedial teaching; and to introduce detention from class 5th to 8th – on the basis of performance in T1 and T2.
However, as per the new policy, the student will be detained on provisional basis with arrangement for special remedial teaching of 2-3 months during vacations/beginning of next session followed by reassessment by SIEs for grading appropriate competencies and in case of inability to meet the qualification criteria in such a reassessment too, the student will be detained in that very particular class.
‘Burning of Islamia Hanfia School Colossal Loss’
ANANTNAG: Expressing anguish over the extensive damage caused to the iconic educational institute, Islamia Hanfia Educational Institute, in a mysterious blaze on Monday, Minister for Education, Naeem Akhtar Wednesday described the destruction as a colossal loss to Education.
The Minister assured the locals that the government will support reconstruction of the building in tune with its distinct heritage character. “On behalf of the Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, who is equally pained over the damage caused to this historic educational institute, I have been asked to assure you of all possible support from the government for the reconstruction of the building and revival of the school,” he told the school management.
The Minister said that constructed in 1346 Hijri, the Islamia Hanfia School is not only one of the oldest educational institutions in South Kashmir, but it is also a cradle of learning which has produced some of the renowned literary giants from the area. “It is a matter of great concern for not only the government, but every right-thinking citizen of Kashmir that amid disturbances over the past couple of months several schools have gone up in flames especially in South Kashmir districts of Anantnag, Kulgam and Shopian,” he said and added that a place like Kashmir which has been an epicentre of intellectual and spiritual learning, can’t afford systemic educational disempowerment of its children.
Akhtar said the residents of this place shall have to seriously ponder over what is going to be the future of our children, if they are forced to stay away from schools like this endlessly. “The history is witness that even during wars, major conflicts and extended agitations across the world, education was never allowed to get disrupted,” he said and added that while the affluent class can afford to send their children outside the State for schooling, it is only the middle class and the poor whose children are being denied the right to education in Kashmir.
Govt Concern A Hypocrisy: KPSA
Srinagar: Kashmir Private Schools Association (KPSA) Wednesday came down heavily on “attempts by certain quarters” to politicize the education and portray its opening or closing as an “only indicator of normalcy”.
The Association said that schools are part of the society and equally suffers if society is suffering.
“On one hand, government is continuously killing people majority of them students and on the other hand it is ordering them to resume their classes,” a statement issued by Kashmir Private Schools Association (KPSA) said.
“Government is blaming resistance camp for closing schools but the reality is that it is the government forces that have unleashed war on its citizens. Resistance camp didn’t kill any student and it is the government forces that have killed dozens of students and injured thousands,” said G N Var president KPSA.
“Not to be content with killing students they have killed teachers too and vandalized and destroyed school properties. Hundreds of our students have been targeted with pellets,” Var said.
Citing example of 11-year-old Nasir Shafi Qazi, a student of Green Light School Nishat, the Association said Nasir was one of the most gentle students of the school and still he was killed in cold blood.
“He was just a child. He was not involved in any stone pelting and government forces didn’t spare him too. What is the guarantee that lakhs of our students will be safe in case schools are resumed,” said Var.
“Similarly in Shopian, government forces unleashed such a terror on civilians that class 7th student, Khushboo Jan, died of cardiac arrest. Students are not safe in their homes and how can they be secure in schools?”
The Association said, “Government forces are creating nightmare situation for students wherein nobody is safe. Be it Home Ministry or police, everybody is stating that schools will open and normalcy will return. Why can’t you provide us cordial atmosphere and not vice-versa,” asked Var.
“Our students, teachers and schools are part of the society and we like others are also suffering.”
The Association dismissed the government assertion that an education session is lost and children are pushed to dark times.
“It is the government which is contributing the most to the situation. If they are sincere, just remove the curbs on internet for our schools and we will cover 80 percent of our syllabus with the help of smart classes and we will share the same with every student including of government schools,” said Var.
“We have means and options to educate our children in our homes too but it is government that is blocking every avenue.”
The Association said that resuming of schools is insignificant as any loss is easily recoverable. “In 1990s, we lost multiple sessions in succession and still our generation got education and at many places excelled by huge margins.”
The Association condemned the government for stressing on exams as the same will affect mental health of children.
“Regarding loss of school days, we suffered during floods and election time. There was no hurry at that time when government took pleasure in closing schools and deferring exams. But now suddenly they are worried for students. This is hypocrisy. Every now and then exams have been deferred so why not now,” he said.
The Association also negated the government claims that there is “mass migration” of students to Jammu.
“According to our schools in Jammu, just 700 to 800 students have gone there which is normal every year.” said Var.
The Association asked the government to address cause of the current uprising and desist from taking cosmetic operations wherein schools are being made sacrificial goats.
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