Amid unabated shutdowns called by the separatists leading to loss of studies and mysterious burning of schools in Kashmir Valley, the authorities have decided to conduct annual examinations albeit with concession in the syllabi for the students. The decision has evoked resentment from sections of civil society and the students who say that the situation in Kashmir was not conducive for conducting examinations.
Chairman of the Board Of School Education (BOSE) Zahoor Ahmad Chatt told reporters that the only purpose behind holding exams in November was to save the academic career of the students who have to appear in other national and international-level competitive examinations in due course. The BOSE conducts examinations for Class X and XII students in the State and affiliates and recognizes the schools both in private and public sector.
The BOSE has announced that examinations for Class X will commence from November 15 while those for the Class XII will start from November 14.
Majority of the students, Private School Association and cross-section of people have been pleading for deferment of exams to March next year in view of continuing unrest that began with the protests over the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani. All the educational institutions in Kashmir are shut in Kashmir in response to protest calendars issued by separatist leadership.
Groups of students have staged protests against the conduct of examinations on the plea that they have not covered the syllabus and the past four months have not been conducive for even self-studies. They said that several students have been detained by the authorities.
Ghulam Nabi Var, president of Private Schools Association said that the conduct of examinations in such circumstances is likely to trigger suicidal tendencies among the students. “In the current situation, where we saw loss of studies due to shutdowns, burning of schools and children getting killed, students are in no way ready for exams. The extreme stress will give birth to suicidal tendencies among them and in the longer run it will create behavioral problems among children,” Var said.
A local daily in its front page editorial also suggested to the Government to defer the examinations till March. “One such grievance is the student backlash against the Government decision to hold annual examination despite the fact that more than half the academic calendar has been lost to curfews and hartals. There is, thus, a natural anxiety among the student community about facing the examination. They have thus sought an adequate preparatory time before they could do so,” the editorial reads. “It (the State Government) can certainly be more responsive to the students, who nurse a genuine grievance, and accede to their demand (of deferment of the exams),” the daily wrote.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International India on Friday urged the State Government to bring to justice those responsible for the burning of schools in Kashmir.
Since July, at least 25 schools have been completely or partially burnt across 10 districts. No group has claimed responsibility. The State police have arrested 22 suspects in recent weeks. “Schools should be safe spaces under all circumstances. The vicious arson attacks on schools end up denying children in Kashmir their right to education. This disturbing trend must stop,” said Aakar Patel, Executive Director, Amnesty International.
The J&K HC has asked the State Government to immediately take preventive measures. The Director of School Education in Kashmir told Amnesty, “It is difficult for us to protect all the school buildings as they are scattered all over the geographical areas of the Valley… We are trying to involve village and mosque committees in the protection of the schools.”
“The right to education of children in Kashmir can also be hampered by the use of schools for military purposes,” said Aakar Patel. “The presence of security forces in schools can increase the risk of them being attacked, and the long-term occupation of schools can increase dropouts and lower student enrolment and teacher recruitment.”