Demand deferment of planned exams
Srinagar: Various academicians, scholars and other intellectuals Sunday urged the government to stop nocturnal raids and withdraw cases against youth.
KNS publishing it as verbatim:
In the aftermath of Buhan Wani’s killing we are now this day of October 30th straight in 114th day of valley wide shut down due to unprecedented longest curfew; crackdowns, strict restrictions imposed by the State Government and the voluntary Hartal by people to protest against over 90 barbarian killings of unarmed civilians; use of pellet guns and PAVA (Pelarogonic Acid Vanillyl Amide) shells which blinded hundreds of persons; mostly school going children and teenagers ; and injured grievously thousands of unarmed people battling for life; hartal to remonstrate against nocturnal raids, random and indiscriminate arrests and other grave human rights violations.
Consequently every sector of our economy and development suffered immensely. While it may not be very difficult for the Kashmir society to recuperate on these fronts it will not be easy to recover from the damage caused to the education sector. The educational institutions are close since 1st July; 2016 when summer vacation was ordered. Thus in a normal academic calendar of 180 days the institutions remained open for over 60 to 70 days. Education sector (our lifeline) has suffered much damage and we can ill afford any further harm to it. The need of the hour is to have it back on rails.
To have the sector back on rails requires an atmosphere conducive to teaching learning process; an atmosphere in which schools and other places of learning and research can open and function; an atmosphere in which children will have confidence of safety while going to schools, an atmosphere in which teachers and other related staff can attend the educational institutions to restart the educational process safely. For this Kashmir society; as a whole; as well as the State Government has a very vital role to play.
In this context we the members of broader Kashmir Civil society fervently appeal to the general public; the community leaders at the grass roots level; the Ulema and Imams of Masjids; the general public above all the popular leadership to kindly play their role in building an atmosphere congenial to opening and functioning of educational institutions particularly the schools.
The State Government has a bigger role to play in creating such atmosphere. To facilitate create a conducive atmosphere it should immediately put a stop on nocturnal raids; stop harassing and arresting people; release all the political prisoners and others jailed on one or the other pretext; revoke all the orders of detention; withdraw FIRs lodged in the aftermath of Burhan killing; pay adequate compensation to the next of the kin/s of those killed; allow compensation to those blinded; grant adequate medical aid to those maimed or grievously injured. The Government should hold time bound judicial inquiry in to innocent killings and bring to justice people responsible for this. To help create a congenial atmosphere the Government should facilitate process of result oriented dialogue and reconciliation for the ultimate resolution of the basic Kashmir problem. It should ensure safety of children and their teachers once the institutions reopen.
In view of the fact that of the 7months ( 210days) from 15 March till 30th October , 2016 educational institutions were on only for hardly 60 to 70 days the State Government should defer the annual Board / University examinations for the time being to allow students time to recover from the trauma and mental stress as well as provide them some time more to ready themselves for the examinations instead of politicizing this issue and making it matter of ego.
We vehemently condemn the burning of schools and ask the State Government to ensure safety of school buildings and other infrastructure. The Government should unmask the elements involved in this heinous crime against the society. It should in any case name and shame these criminals so that nobody dares to damage the infrastructure in future. We appeal the community at large for a proactive role in saving state assets like schools buildings, forests and water bodies.
1. Prof. A. G Madhosh formerly Dean Education University of Kashmir.
2. Prof. M. Ashraf Wani Dean academic University of Kashmir.
3. Prof. M Zaman Azurdah Formerly Dean Socila Sciences K U.
4. Prof. Naseem Rafiaabadi Central University Kashmir.
5. Prof. C .L Vishen President Unaided Private Schools Association.
6. Prof. M A Charoo Formerly Chairman State Board of School Education.
7. Prof. Noor Ahmad Baba Central University.
8. Prof. Gul Mohammad Wani University of Kashmir.
9. Prof G Ahmad Bhat Environmental Sciences University of Kashmir.
10. Prof. Mohammad Ashraf Wani Dean academic University of Kashmir.
11. Prof. Nusrat Andrabi Formerly Principal Women’s College M A Road Srinagar.
12. Prof. Bashar Basheer Sheikh ul Alam Chair University of Kashmir.
13. Prof. Mohammad Aslam Central University.
14. Prof. Bashir Ahmad Sheikh Formerly Chairman J & K State Board of School Education.
15. Prof. Rafiq Ahmad Shah Formerly Principal College of Education Srinagar.
16. Prof Farooq Fayaz.
17. Dr. Altaf Hussain.
18. Dr. Syed Shujaat Bukhari.
19. Dr. Aijaz Ahmad.
20. Bashir Ahmad Dar Formerly Secretary J & K State Board of School Education.
21. Rafi Ahmad Formerly Principal S IE Srinagar & Joint Director Trainings.
22. Khurshid Ahmad Reshi Formerly Joint Secretary JK State Board of School Education.
23. Zareef Ahmad Zareef.
24. Advocate Parvez Ahmad Malik.
25. Advocate Shahid Ahmad Khan.
26. Noor Mohammad Formerly Principal HS Schhol & Joint Secretary JK Board.
27. Aziz u din Chashoo Master.
28. Javid Ahmad Principal Higher Secondary School.