Srinagar, June 13 (KNS): The Group of Concerned Citizens (GCC) J&K, a non-political civil society collective, has sought review of the proposal on compulsory affiliation of all schools in J&K with Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).
In a statement, issued to Kashmir News Service (KNS), a spokesperson said that in separate memoranda addressed to the Union Education Minister and the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, it has appealed that the affiliation and recognition of schools, as provided under law and regulations in force, may be allowed to continue undisturbed.
The GCC urged a de novo examination of the proposal by Union Ministry of Education as also the UT Administration, on the following grounds that the School system in J&K is aligned to NCERT which has helped it make steady progress on the "key performance indicators".
It reads that in the given dispensation, schools in J&K enjoy free choice to affiliate to any of the boards including CBSE, subject to due process of law and regulations, whereby some 250 Schools are already affiliated with CBSE.
"Affiliation and recognition of schools in J&K is governed under the J&K Board of School Education Act, 1975 which continues to be in force, having been saved by J&K Re-organisation Act'
2019 passed by the Parliament."
It added that the education is a subject in the "Concurrent List" of the Constitution of India. "States, as well as UTs with legislature like J&K, have therefore a role and responsibility in legislating on 'Education' , besides formulating policies and development strategies and schemes in this sector."
It reads that J&K is not going to be a UT for ever. "The Education Ministry will be expected to take due cognisance of the assurances held out by Prime Minister and Home Minister in Parliament (and outside) on restoration of statehood. Any major change in the educational set up in Jammu and Kashmir on the premise of it being a UT, could prove to be unhelpful, rather counterproductive."
It added that under the J&K Board of School Education Act 1975, the J&K BOSE is entrusted with Development of Curriculum and Text Books, Conduct of Examinations, Affiliating and recognising institutions for the purpose of providing instruction etc.
"In case all its affiliate schools were made to go for CBSE Affiliation , the BOSE will cease to exist with consequential plus--1000 job losses including closure of 22 sub-offices and 25 branch offices."
It added that the NEP 2020 envisages a mechanism of "Standard Setting and Accreditation" through a State School Standards Authority (SSSA).
"Any move like the proposed compulsory affiliation with would be tantamount to pre-empting the relevant provisions of National Education Policy which obviously should not be the intention." (KNS)