| News Details |
| PSAJK Seeks Academic Autonomy, Urges Govt To Treat Private Schools As Equal Knowledge Partners | |
Srinagar,February 15 (Scoop News)-The Private Schools’ Association of Jammu and Kashmir (PSAJK) today held an important meeting under the chairmanship of Baba Nazur-ul-Islam to deliberate on pressing issues concerning the private school sector in Jammu and Kashmir.
At the outset, Baba Nazur-ul-Islam extended greetings on the upcoming holy month of Ramadan and welcomed the reopening of schools after the winter break. He said the meeting passed several key resolutions aimed at strengthening the private education system and ensuring a smooth academic session ahead.
The Association expressed concern that the Apex Committee constituted by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir to examine and restore the academic autonomy of private schools has not yet convened.
Baba stated, “The Apex Committee was given a time-bound mandate of 30 days to deliberate on the issue of private school autonomy. We sincerely hope that now, with the Assembly session over, the committee will immediately begin its work and take private school stakeholders on board. Academic autonomy must be safeguarded and a clear regulatory checklist should be framed to facilitate institutions rather than create confusion.”
He further welcomed the recent observations of the Double Bench of the Hon’ble J&K High Court, which directed that schools should be regulated and not strangulated.
“Checks and balances are always welcome. However, excessive inspections, frequent circulars and repeated program changes disturb the academic calendar. Schools must be allowed to function in a conducive learning environment where students receive maximum learning time and institutions can follow their planned academic calendars,” he added.
Baba Nazur-ul-Islam also raised objections to certain circulars issued at the district level, particularly in Doda, which he said were contrary to existing norms and decisions taken by higher authorities, including the Commissioner Secretary, Education and the Apex Committee.
He further said, “Any circular that contradicts established norms and previous decisions must be reviewed and withdrawn. Private schools cannot be subjected to inconsistent directives that create operational and academic uncertainty.”
Baba emphasized that private school date sheets cannot always mirror those of government schools due to differences in enrollment strength, class structure and internal academic planning.
“For transparent examinations, the government should give clear deadlines, such as the March 20 deadline already communicated, but allow schools the flexibility to conduct examinations within that timeframe according to their own academic structure. Using the same examination date sheet for all institutions creates serious management difficulties and affects transparency,” he said.
The Association welcomed recent capacity-building and teacher training initiatives undertaken by DIET Srinagar and Budgam, as well as similar efforts reported from the Jammu division.
“We appreciate the efforts of DIET in organizing capacity-building programs. Such initiatives must continue and expand. Continuous professional development of teachers benefits the entire education ecosystem.”
PSAJK also stressed that private school teachers should be given equal recognition during official ceremonies such as Teachers’ Day and state-level functions.
Baba Nazur-ul-Islam said, “Private schools educate nearly 50 percent of the student population. We are knowledge partners of the government. Our teachers deserve equal recognition and encouragement for their outstanding performance. While the community acknowledges our contribution, the government must also visibly recognize the role played by private institutions.”
He reiterated that the Hon’ble High Court has acknowledged the commendable role of private schools in the education sector and called upon authorities to reflect that acknowledgment in policy and practice.
Baba said, “We request the government to make newspaper and magazine reading a compulsory part of the school timetable. At least one to two hours every week should be allocated for reading. Many schools are already following this practice, but if it is made compulsory in all schools, it will help students develop better reading habits and improve their thinking ability.”
Baba Nazur-ul-Islam emphasized that the issues of the private school sector can only be resolved when the government formally and practically recognizes private institutions as equal partners in education.
“The private school ecosystem is an integral part of Jammu and Kashmir’s education landscape. Our issues can only be addressed when the government fully acknowledges us as knowledge partners and engages with us through structured dialogue and collaborative policymaking.”
PSAJK urged the authorities to ensure a stable, transparent and autonomy-driven academic environment in the larger interest of students and the education sector of Jammu and Kashmir.
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