Srinagar: As the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education has persisted with its decision to conduct the examinations of class 11 through the board and on the already notified date, the student protests against the move have refused to die down.
For the past few days the students held protests in Srinagar protesting against the move.
Aghast with the government decision to start exams from October, the students asked the authorities, especially JK Board of School Education (BOSE) to reschedule their exams to mid-November.
On Monday, students at least at two places in southern and central Kashmir hit roads demanding deferment of the examination. The students said that have not completed syllabus yet but the government is adamant to hold exams as per their own convenience without considering the students’ point of view.
The JK Board of School education (BOSE) has scheduled the annual exams for class 10, 11 and 12th from last week of October.
In Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, locals said that students of Class 11 came out of their higher secondary schools and blocked Sgr-Leh highway at Ganiwan Gund demanding deferment of annual examinations.
Similarly in southern Kashmir’s Pulwama district, sources said that class 11 students protested.
They said that the students assembled in main chowk Pulwama and blocked traffic raising slogans against the education department.
The students claimed that due to the “prevailing situation” the schools were shut by authorities due to law and order and as a result they have not completed the syllabus.
The students sought the intervention of the governor to address their demands.
The Director School Education Kashmir, Dr G N Itoo, meanwhile, has said the decision to hold Class 11th examinations through J&K State Board of School Education (JKBOSE) has been taken in the larger academic interest of the students so that they are well prepared for Class 12th and professional competitive examinations.
The Director Education said that the decision to conduct Class 11th Examination through JKBOSE was, in fact, taken on the insistent demand of the students and parents, who wanted this examination to be conducted with serious-mindedness and in a structured manner like Class 10th and 12th examinations.
Seeking cooperation of the parents, students and other stakeholders, especially the private educational institutions, in the smooth and timely conduct of these examinations, Dr Itoo said the Education Department has already issued instructions to all the heads of institutions to organize special counselling sessions for students through subject specific teachers/lecturers and counseling experts on how to overcome exam stress and also address their concerns, if any.
He said circular instructions have also been issued to the heads of educational institutions to ensure completion of the syllabus before the commencement of examinations next month.
“Wherever required extra classes would be organized to ensure completion of syllabus at the earliest,” DSEK said and impressed upon all heads of institutions that there should be no complaint from students about the non-completion of syllabus.