VoL Desk, September 01: The Jammu and Kashmir government has ordered the operationalization of the ‘Uniform Academic Calendar for both the divisions of Kashmir and Jammu from the current session in sync with the Higher Education Department (HED) and National Academic Calendar (NAC).

As per an order issued by Principal Secretary J&K School Education Department (SED) Alok Kumar, the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) under this calendar will hold annual regular examinations of Class X and XII in both Kashmir and Jammu divisions, excluding hard or difficult zones and Ladakh, in March.   

However, in hard zones or areas of Kashmir, Jammu divisions, and the Union Territory of Ladakh, these examinations will be held in April. But the result of the annual regular examination of the Jammu division, Kashmir division including hard zone or areas, and UT of Ladakh will be declared in June simultaneously.

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However, Academicians and Educationists from Kashmir Valley have termed the decision of implementing the ‘Uniform Academic Calendar’ in Jammu and Kashmir a very unfortunate and thoughtless order, reported the KNT.

The new ‘diktat’ as per Academicians will have serious ramifications and won’t serve any purpose.

“It is unfortunate that a thoughtless decision to change academic session is being thrust in Kashmir division and winter zones of Jammu division as was done in 1984 but reversed in 1986,” says Bashir Ahmad, former Director Academics & Secretary Jammu Kashmir Board of School Education.

The likely damaging effects of shifting academic schedules in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in the Valley are multiple.

The number of working days (200  to 213) available now for classes  X, XI and XII  will reduce to 137 to 150 days.

The number of working days (200 to 220) available now for classes  1 to 9   will also get reduced.

The active instructional time available will considerably decrease while almost throughout the country students take examinations and then have vacations to travel; do social work,  work on small projects of their choice by way of self-learning or prepare at ease for different competitive examinations;  students of Kashmir division and other winter zone areas of Jammu will have their examinations after vacations. They will have no time to travel to learn skills of life; they will have no time to do any social work or other healthy activities they would want to engage in without much stress.

The present schedule of examinations was giving students of the Kashmir division ample time to prepare for national-level tests. (with inputs from KNT)