JKBOSE refuses to accept Exam form, puts Future of Thousands of Students at risk
Srinagar, December 15: (Web Desk Wattan)
Thousands of students in Jammu and Kashmir are facing an uncertain future because the Board of School Education (BOSE) is refusing to accept examination forms from students enrolled in private schools situated on state land. This decision by BOSE has raised concerns and questions, especially since it goes against a stay order issued by the J&K High Court against a government directive from the previous year.
The issue started when the J&K government amended rules in 2022 under the Education Act 2002, providing new guidelines for the use of land and buildings by private schools in the region. Following these amendments, the government ordered the immediate closure of private schools located on state land. Students from these schools were instructed to obtain school leaving certificates and transfer to nearby government schools, subject to parental consent.
Private school owners collectively sought relief from the J&K High Court, which granted a stay on the government’s order. However, despite the legal intervention, BOSE’s refusal to accept examination forms for class 10th students enrolled in these private schools has jeopardized the academic aspirations of thousands.
Ghulam Nabi Var, the President of Private Schools Association Jammu and Kashmir (PSAJK), expressed surprise at BOSE’s action and questioned the grounds for not accepting forms when the High Court has already issued a stay. He highlighted that approximately 2 lakh students, including orphans and underprivileged children, are enrolled in these schools on state land.
The submission of examination forms for class 10th students began on November 29, 2023, but BOSE’s refusal has left students and parents in a state of uncertainty. A BOSE official acknowledged the matter is sub judice but suggested extending the deadline for submission of examination forms, emphasizing that the government should make the final decision.
An official at the Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) confirmed the High Court’s stay but noted a lack of communication from the government on the matter. The situation remains complex, with students’ academic futures hanging in the balance.
