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“Students know what to read, what not”

Srinagar: Chairman Board of School Education (BOSE) Zahoor Ahmad Chatt Wednesday said that authorities are not in hurry to announce syllabus relaxation for class 10 and class 12 for planed exams as “students know what to read and what not.”
“I don’t know why people are worried about the syllabus relaxation. We are working on it. It may take more two to three days to finalize and declare the relaxation to be given to the students of both classes,” he told KNS.
He said that students know how much syllabus they have covered and what to read for exams. “Students know what to read and what to read. They know how much syllabus they have covered. The announcement of relaxation is no issue for them,” he said while replying to a query.
He said that atmosphere is conducive for the exams. “There are no issues. The only demand is syllabus relaxation that we are going to announce shortly. Students are concentrating and must concentrate on studies and they should prepare themselves for exams,” he said.
Pertinently, students of class 10 and class 12 have claimed to covered only 30-40 percent syllabus.
While the JK government is adamant to hold class 10 and 12 exams in November with relaxation in syllabus for students, BOSE is indecisive over the move, leaving students in a dilemma.
The inordinate delay by BOSE to take a call on the issue has infuriated the students who accuse the BOSE and government for ruining their career.
“First they took a controversial decision to hold exams in November which was not accepted by students. Now there is a delay regarding the relaxation to be given to students in their syllabus. This is sheer injustice with us,” a group of students told KNS.
They said the government is adamant to hold exams in November amid the ongoing tension without considering its impact on students.
“If government had to hold exams in November, the announcement for relaxation in syllabus should have been made earlier. Students are now left in a lurch,” the aggrieved students said.
The students reiterated the government should defer the exams till March and provide some time for students to prepare for their exams. (KNS)

A school safety day has also been announced in the calendar, urging students and parents to march towards respective schools.

‘Talk to three mullas; Umar, Geelani, Malik, they will tell you how you meet Allah’

Srinagar: Senior Hurriyat leader and Muslim Conference (MC) Chairman Prof Abdul Gani Bhat today said he is no more a relevant person to talk to about the current situation. He said this when asked to share his views about the fate of the current unrest and his meeting with the recent Yashwant Sinha led five-member delegation to Kashmir.

Bhat said, “I advise you to talk to relevant people.  It is better to talk to Yasin Malik, Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar. I advise you to see the relevant people,” he said.

Bhat said, “They are three relevant—Moulvi Umar, Moulvi Geelani and Moulvi Yasin; see the three mullas (religious preachers) in a row. If you meet these three mullas in a row, they will lead you to the mosque and lead the prayers and will tell you how you meet Allah,” he said.

Asked if he (Bhat) is followed, where would he lead to? Bhat said, “I will lead you to a place which you don’t choose to visit at all,” he said.

Asked if he favoured reopening of schools, the senior Hurriyat leader and former APHC chairman said he doesn’t like to talk on such issues. “I am not interested to talk on such issues. Talk about soulful crying of Kashmir. Pick the stories which benefit people. Let’s not talk about old things, talk about new things,” he said.

Bhat said Kashmir is a big problem. “Both the countries, India and Pakistan can’t ignore Chinese corridor through Pakistan and the same time American involvement in Afghanistan,” he said.  (PTK)

Says if policemen don’t feel secure in their police stations, how can teachers dare to stay in schools.

Srinagar: AIP Supremo and MLA Langate Er. Rashid has expressed his deep anger and anguish over the orders issued by Govt. that teachers along with Chowkidars will have to stay during night in the schools to protect them from burning. In a statement issued to Kashmir Today Er. Rashid said “there can be nothing condemnable and insulting not for the teachers but for the entire nation that teachers have been reduced to the level of Chowkidars. May Govt. answer what is fault of teachers if Govt. has failed to protect schools and other establishments. Not only that on moral grounds these orders are unacceptable but how can teachers protect schools in dark nights empty handed in an atmosphere where police men are not able to protect even their weapons and police stations. If Govt. is providing security to life and property of hundreds of white elephants including Chief Minister, Ministers, MLA’s, MLC’s, MP’s, Political renegades, bureaucrats, and other so called protected persons besides providing security to security establishments and many other institutions, why can’t it safeguard schools. The move also seems a desperate  attempt by the Govt. to threaten and blackmail Govt. employees, as they have geared up against termination of their twelve colleagues. The Govt’s intentions, will, behavior and measures force even a lay men to conclude that Govt. is itself involved in the conspiracy against schools, not only to teach Kashmiri’s a lesson but to defame the society by posturing as if Kashmiris are keen bent to burn schools” Er. Rashid appealed all saner voices to raise their protest against not only putting life of thousands of teachers to risk and vulnerability but insulting and disgracing the torch bearers of our nation.

Srinagar: Police on Wednesday foiled a meeting among three resistance leaders spearheading ongoing protests in Kashmir.

Sources said that that the three leaders – Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik – had planned a meeting at the former’s residence in Hyderpora to discuss the future strategy.

However, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was not allowed to move out from his Nigeen residence where he remains under house arrest.

JKLF Chief Yasin Malik had reached outside the residence of Geelani at around 3 pm, but he was not allowed to move inside where the latter is placed under house arrest.

Srinagar: A top police officer is among around three-dozen people injured during ongoing clashes in Anchar locality of Soura in Srinagar on Wednesday.

Sources said that SP Naveed Peerzada was among several police and paramilitary personnel who were injured in the clashes.

Several civilians injured during clashes and due to alleged thrashing by forces have been shifted to SKIMS for treatment.

Clashes erupted in the locality after forces launched a crackdown after Fajr (morning) prayers and allegedly beat up the residents.

“Nobody including Hurriyat against examinations”

“Create conducive atmosphere first and let then us discuss which date is feasible for examinations”

Srinagar: Kashmir Private Schools Association (KPSA) today appealed to all sections of the society to keep their politics aside and find a middle ground for the benefit of lakhs of children.

In a statement Issued To Kashmir Today the Association said that nobody including Hurriyat leaders are against education but unfortunately confrontation is still taking place on the same issue. The Association appealed people from all school of thoughts to work for a middle path that will benefit the students in a best possible way.

The Association condemned the burning up of schools over the last few weeks. “No sane person particularly a Muslim can burn the school as it is against the teachings of Islam. Our bellowed Prophet (PBUH) has said that instruments of knowledge that include pen, paper and schools are as sacred as the blood of a martyr, so how could a Muslim dare to burn the schools,” said G N Var president KPSA. “Schools are next to mosques.”

The Association appealed the entire society to come forward and ensure safeguarding of schools. “We have also asked our private staff to help in whatever way they can in these hard time. Even students and their parents have a role to play. This is the question of our future,” said Var.

The Association said that everybody including government should forego their hard stance particularly about conduct of exams in November. The Association said that the student community is already under heavy stress and the pressure of examinations can even lead to suicidal tendencies among them. “Examinations are not important they are just a formality, studies and classrooms are important as it is here a student learns something. Examinations are there to check what a student has learnt in classes, when a student didn’t learn anything what is the fun of having examinations,” said Var. “This year we had less number of working days, syllabus is far from complete and there were no practicals. So on what basis government is going to conduct examinations?”

The Association said that in the present circumstance the students would suffer a lot in the examinations and it will mar their careers. “Students didn’t learn anything so they will exhibit poor performance. That will also result in students being unable to qualify competitive exams like NEET, JEE, CET etc,” said Var. “In current situation where we saw dozens of school 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.” 

The Association said that the examinations at this stage are against the principles of child development. The Association advocated conducting of examinations in February as it would enough time for every student to get prepared. “In 2014 floods too we lost seven months and still managed to save the session. So time is not the problem as we can cope with it. Govt needs to think on the larger benefit of students,” said Var.

The Association asked the government to create a conducive atmosphere for schools to function. “All jailed students should be released, cases against them should be revoked and schools should be demilitarized. Then we can discuss and see which date is feasible for examinations,” said Var. “Everybody has to be taken on board in a meaningful and democratic way.

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) has submitted proposal to government for curtailing the syllabus of the annual class X and class XII board exams in view of the prevailing unrest.
“We have sent the proposal to government and asked it to consider either reducing the syllabus or to increase the choice in the question paper,” said a senior official of JKBOSE on the condition of anonymity.
Only 14 days are left and government has not yet decided the matter.
The official said that it is now up to government to take the final call on the issue.
Kashmir has remained closed for over three months due to curfews, restrictions and shutdowns. Students have not been able to attend the schools during this period.
Last week Chief Minister Mehboob Mufti said they were planning to make question papers easy for the students.
But officially JKBOSE has not issued any such direction.
Students said they are in confusion and distress due to JKBOSE’s silence over the matter.
Physiologist at SMHS hospital said that students are under stress and conducting exam would have a direct impact on their psychology.
Government has put the students in limbo as they are not clearly stating whether to reduce the syllabus or not. (RK)

Srinagar: Various college female students Tuesday staged protest on MA Road here, demanding benefits of the Scooty Finance scheme.

The students alleged that authorities have closed the scheme after benefiting “influential students.”

“College authorities are refusing to entertain our applications. We were asked to visit Deputy Commissioner’s office to avail the benefits of scheme,” they said.

The protestors blocked the road for 15 minutes but later dispersed off peacefully.

On September 9, this year, Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti formally launched the Scooty Finance scheme for college going girls. The   was announced by the State Government in Budget 2016-17.

The scheme envisages that the State Government will facilitate purchase of scooties by the college going girls by bearing 50 percent cost of the two-wheeler.