Kashmir Harvard Parents Association

09/09/2023

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High Court of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh upholds power of JKBOSE to prescribe text books. Says mandatory for Pvt. schools to follow the curriculum & textbooks prescribed by Board. The board can't be compelled to accept private publishers' books.
The court has dismissed the petition filed by Pvt. Schools United Front.

29/03/2023

21/09/2022

*JK SCERT ‘proposes’ to shift Classes 1-9 exams in March*

Srinagar, Sep 21 : Following the shifting of all board exams to March session, the Jammu and Kashmir State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) is also likely to do away with the October-November session.

In this regard, SCERT has forwarded a proposal to the Principal Secretary, School Education Department.

According to the news agency a joint meeting of all the Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs) of SCERT was held in virtual mode to seek inputs on adoption of Uniform Academic Calendar upto class 9th in winter zone areas of JKUT and formulation of budget estimates 2022-23 Viz 2023-24.

“In the meeting a threadbare discussion was held with all stakeholders for smooth implementation of Uniform Academic Calendar upto class 9th in JKUT sync with the Uniform Academic Calendar notified by Government of Jammu & Kashmir (UT) for class 10th 11th and 12th,” reads the minutes of meeting.

It states that all participants in the meeting had agreed for adoption of Uniform Academic Calendar upto class 9th in JKUT.

“All the participants in the meeting have agreed to implement Uniform Academic Calendar in rural and urban and winter zone areas in sync with the academic calendar of other classes 9th to 12th as notified by the government,” it reads.

It further states that, “There shall be school based Student Assessment and Evaluation Scheme’ for all classes and Year End Assessment for classes 5th and 8th shall be conducted in the month of March every year in all schools across the JKUT to identify Potential Learners (Low Performer students) on the basis of performance and competency in assessment, who will be given remedial teaching to bring them at par with other students.”

According to the minutes of the SCERT, “The uniform question papers for classes 5th and 8th shall be prescribed by SCERT J&K to familiarize and prepare the students about future Board Examinations.”

“In case some snow bound areas of Districts like Bandipora (Gurez), Kishtwar (Dachan, Madwa) Kathua, Kupwara etc their shall be separate series of question papers prescribed by SCERT JKUT, which will enable the respective Principals of DIETs, in consultation with ZEO and cluster heads to conduct ‘Year End Assessment’ as per their feasibility within two weeks,” it reads.

SCERT said that it was unanimously agreed by all participants that there is sufficient human resource and infrastructure available for conducting of ‘Year End Assessment’ for classes 5th and 8th at Cluster Level and for other classes at School level.

“All the Principal DIETs have submitted that adoption of Uniform Academic Calendar upto Class 9th in JKUT sync with the analogy of Class 10th to 12th as notified by the Government of JKUT and should be implemented,” it reads.

It further said that in case of formulation of first budget estimates for the year 2023-24, 2022-23 (Revised), all DDO, Principal DIETs were sanitized about the budget formats prescribed by Finance Department; for which Whatsapp groups for budget and examinations were created by SCERT for immediate sharing of information.

SCERT said that during the meeting it was also decided that accounts staff and budget of SCERT and associated DIETs must prepare budget estimates in consonance with the sanctioned strength of SCERT and DIETs as per latest government orders issued for establishment of SCERT in JKUT.

“All the participants Viz Joint Directors and Principal DIETs and other associated staff was advised to submit their inputs on a adoption of Uniform Academic Calendar upto class 9th in JKUT and budget estimates 2022-23 revised and 2023-24 on prescribed formats by 18.9.2022,” it reads.

11/09/2022

Today we visited an event organised by Kashmir Havard Edicational Institute Naseem Bagh to promote culture of Kashmir.I think it is important to show our culture to small kids so that they will remember their own culture and promote it.

31/08/2022

*Govt Issues Formal Orders For March Session In J&K, Ladakh*

Srinagar, Aug 31 : The Government on Wednesday ordered a “uniform academic calendar” in J&K and Ladakh.

The order in this regard has been issued by Principal Secretary to the Government School Education Department Alok Kumar and follows recommendations of a committee formed for the purpose.

The committee for implementation of “Uniform Academic Calendar” for both the Divisions of Jammu and Kashmir in sync with the Higher Education Department and rest of the country was constituted on April 30 here.

The committee said that the theory examination in Jammu and Kashmir be conducted from 1st week of March as per the present Academic calendar of Jammu Summer Zone (except in difficult areas of Jammu region) and some areas of Kashmir region.

The examination in these difficult areas, the committee said, shall be delayed and held from 2nd week of April as per the calendar proposed when these areas are fully accessible and the delivery of the examination stationary and confidential material is ensured.

Even though if examination in these difficult areas shall be conducted separately, the result of these examination can he declared simultaneously, as although the ‘difficult' areas’ constitutes of approx. 30-35% of the area the J&K, the total number of students from these areas is not more than approx. 10-12%.

Since the areas are sparsely populated and the evaluation of Answer Scripts shall take less time, it said

“The recommendations of the Committee were examined in the department and it has been decided to operationalize Uniform Academic calendar in the J&K,” reads the order.

The government has also issued guidelines which provide that the students who appear in Class 10th and 11th examination shall be provisionally admitted in Class 11th and I2th respectively after conclusion of Board examination. Students, who are declared unsuccessful in the results, shall be permitted to continue their studies in Class 11th and 12th till the result of Bi- annual/Annual Private examination are declared, the guidelines reads. In respect of the candidates who fail to pass in Bi-annual examination, provisional admission shall be cancelled, they said.

J&K Board of School Education has been asked to restructure the examination schedule from Classes 10th to 12th by holding annual (Regular) examination of Jammu Division/Kashmir Division excluding hard zones/areas in the month of March.

Annual (Regular) examination of hard zones/areas of Jammu Division and Kashmir Division/Union territory of Ladakh shall be held in the month of April, the guidelines provide.

However, the result of Annual (Regular) examination of Jammu Division/ Kashmir Division including hard zones/areas and Ladakh shall be declared in the month of June, as per the guidelines.

The Annual Private/Bi-annual examination in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh shall be held in the month of August and its result shall be declared in the month of October.

The J&K Board of School Education has been asked to issue a detailed examination schedule including schedule for submission of application form etc.

“J&K Board of School Education shall notify the list of hard zones/difficult areas separately.”

Other Schedules viz. Registration, renewal of Registration, Migration, Inter-School Migration, Eligibility, Subject change etc shall also be notified separately by J&K Board of School Education, guidelines said.

“The examination schedule shall be applicable with immediate effect from the current session.”

27/08/2022

*It is Official, Exam session to be March now for class 10, 12*

*Move aimed to bring uniformity in academic calender, say Officials*

Srinagar, Aug 27 : Instead of November-December session, the government is all set to commence with the annual regular board examinations of 10th-12th standard from March.

Top officials in the administration informed the news agency that it has shifted the examination session from November-December to March.

“In order to bring uniformity in the academic calendar with the national academic calendar, we have decided to conduct all board exams in March,” the official said.

“Official order in this regard will be issued in a week’s time,” the official added.

Pertinently, the School Education Department earlier in May has sought a detailed report from the panel constituted for preparing the uniform academic calendar for both divisions of Jammu and Kashmir.

Earlier the Chief Secretary, Arun Kumar Mehta has said that Jammu and Kashmir will fully implement the National Education Policy (NEP) from the current academic session.

Mehta has also said that the implementation of NEP-2020 will also move to a uniform academic calendar which in turn will be synchronized to the national academic calendar.

In July, the Jammu and Kashmir Higher Education Department (HED) said that Uniform Academic Calendar shall be followed from academic year 2022-23.

Besides, the department has also said that the calendar shall be prominently displayed on the college website.

The HED had also said that in line with the vision of the NEP 2020, it has initiated a series of reforms for improving the quality of learning and teaching in all government institutions.

13/05/2022

*Govt to impose fine on Pvt Schools for non-compliance of FFRC orders..*

*FFRC to impose a fine equivalent to 1 percent of the total revenue generated by the respective Pvt schools in preceding year for the first time of non-compliance, 3 percent for the second time and 5 percent for the third time..*

Srinagar, May 12 : Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor (LG), Manoj Sinha in the newly notified rules has said that the Fee Fixation and Regulation Committee (FFRC) shall impose fine to those private schools who do not comply with the orders issued by the Committee.

Principal Secretary, School Education Department has in a notification has said, “In exercise of the powers conferred by section 29 with sections 20A, 20B and 20C of the Jammu and Kashmir School Education Act, 2002, the LG of Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir makes several rules.”

One of the rules issued by the Sinha reads, “On non-compliance of the order of the committee, the chairperson shall impose a fine on private school equivalent to 1 percent of the total revenue generated in the preceding year for the first time of non-compliance and 3 percent for the second time of non-compliance and 5 percent for the third time of non-compliance.”

“If the Private School continues to violate the order consecutively three times, the private school shall be put under the non-admission category and if the private school fails to comply with the orders of the committee, it shall recommend the appropriate authority to take over the management of the school,” it reads.

The notification however reads that it shall be ratified by the committee in its next meeting within 15 days.

It reads, “If the private school fails to refund the amount as ordered by the committee or fails to pay fine as imposed, the chairperson shall order to recover the amount as an arrear of land revenue by Tehsildar concerned (Revenue Officer).”

“The amount so recovered shall be paid to such persons as mentioned in the order and the amount of the penalty to be deposited in the government treasury in such manner as may be ordered by the Chairperson,” reads the notification

Stating the powers and functions of the committee, the authorities said that it shall fix, determine and regulate the fee to be charged and collected by private schools and to hear complaints with regard to the charging and collection of fee in excess of the fee determined by the committee.

“If the Committee, after obtaining the material comes to the conclusion that the private school has charged and collected fee in excess of the fee fixed determined and regulated by the Committee, it shall recommend to the appropriate authority for the cancellation of the recognition or registration of the private school or for any other course of action as it deems fit in respect of the private school,” it reads........

07/04/2022

*Nexus: Purchasing uniforms from a particular shop is a new way to make money*

Srinagar, Apr 7: Parents can be seen buying school uniforms from designated shops across Srinagar city. This as per parents is a new nexus in making.

Ironically, the designated shops that sell school uniforms to parents flout norms. These shops sell uniforms with a price tag on them.

“The other day I purchased a coat, shirt, sweater, and a pent for my class 3rd child from a shop at Regal Chowk. Every item was without any price tag. They charge as per their will,” said Nazir Ahmed, a resident of Jawahar Nagar.

Jammu Kashmir Students Association alleges that there is a nexus between some selected shopkeepers and private schools. It said that School Education Department is in deep slumber. Parents have been directed to purchase summer uniforms from specific private shops. “Is it a new way to make money? Govt Must break this nexus & mafia between a few selected Shopkeepers and private schools,” the Association said.

The Association said that they are being informed that schools did this to earn commission and despite government orders, the big schools are continuing with the practice. “The practice is against the instructions. Authorities should monitor such practices & take action against them.”

Pertinently, the Education Department had repeatedly directed private schools to stop forcing the parents and students to buy uniforms and books from particular shops or schools itself.

“When schools re-opened after a very long gap, we are informed that students don’t need uniforms at least for a fortnight, but wards were forced to purchase uniforms in the very first week. It’s normal for private schools to flout the directives from ‘poor’ Education Department,” Advocate Saleem, the father of two school-going kids told news agency.

Some of the netizens alleged that there is a general feeling that officials are hand in glove with the school authorities.

The private Education Sector which is a flourishing money-making sector in Kashmir Valley has always been in news for bad reasons. In absence of any regulation, this sector takes parents for a ride when it wishes. (Agencies)

23/02/2022

*Snowfall: Authorities defer School Re-opening preparations*

Srinagar, Feb 23 : In view of heavy snowfall, the concerned authorities of Srinagar district on Wednesday deferred preparation of reopening of schools in Kashmir valley.

The authorities earlier had asked the concerned school authorities to start preparations for reopening of schools from February-24.

According to the news agency the official has said, “The Heads of all schools of district Srinagar were advised to start advance preparations for re-opening of schools.”

“However, due to the prevailing weather conditions, the exercise of preparations may be deferred by one day. But the HOIs are directed to ensure preparations in advance well before 28-02-2022,” the official said.(Agencies)

16/02/2022

Congratulations to All Students...

08/02/2022

Congratulations to Aurosa Pervaiz of Kashmir Harvard Educational Institute for first position in 12th standard annual examination.We Kashmir Harvard Parents Association whole heartdly congratulate her for grand success and prays for her better future...

25/08/2021

*DSEK Exhorts CEOs For Recognition/Affiliation of Private via Online Mode*

Srinagar, Aug 25 : Director School Education Kashmir (DSEK) has issued a fresh circular exhorting the respective Chief Education Officers in Kashmir division to switch over to online mode of recognition/affiliation of private schools.

“Pursuant to the instructions of Administrative Department conveyed vide letter No: Edu/Adm/03/2021/Sgr Dated: 29-07-2021 and endrosed by this Directorate vide No: DSEK/GS/54/Mist/2021/858 dated: 18/8/2021 to all Chief Education Officers of Kashmir Province for switching over to online mode of recognition/affiliation of Private schools as envisaged under SRO-123 dated: 18-03-2010 read with SRO-292 dated: 02-07-2018 as a major reforms towards a transparent and efficient governance in the School Education Department for all stake holders w.e.f 1st August 2021”, reads the circular.

The link to access/approach the portal is schedujammusnic.in/pvtschool which has also been informed to all the CEOs, it reads.

Maintaining that it has been found that the CEO are still forwarding cases to this Directorate through offline mode inspite clear cut instructions of the Administrative Department as referred above, the circular further reads that all CEOs are once again enjoined upon to switch over to online mode for affiliation process and shall impart training to the dealing hands for operating of the portal at District level after getting support from concerned NIC officials, besides giving vide publicity to this information among all stake holders and common masses in local print/electronic/social media platforms. (GNS)

02/08/2021

*70% of school students across Jammu and Kashmir are without digital devices*



SRINAGAR, AUG 02 : More than 2.96 crore school students in 23 states are without digital devices. This is more than 70% of Jammu and Kashmir without digital devices; the information was given by the Ministry of Education to the Lok Sabha on Monday.

These details were shared in Parliament by the Ministry of Education in response to a written question, "Have some states seen a sharp drop in the number of students enrolling in private schools compared to pre-pandemic years?"

With 1.43 crore, Bihar has the highest number of children without digital devices, according to data shared by the ministry. Sharing in percentage, the ministry informed the House that most of the students in Madhya Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir are without digital devices.

States like Assam, Jharkhand and Karnataka have more than 30 lakh children without access to digital devices, while Uttarakhand has 21 lakh such children. Other states with over 10 lakh children without digital devices are Haryana, Odisha and Tamil Nadu, while Kerala has 9.5 lakh children in this category.

The ministry also informed that the dropout rate at secondary level in the academic session 2019-20 has been 16.1% and in case of boys, 17%. Some of the states with higher than the national school dropout rate are Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand and Maharashtra.

15/06/2021

Pravite schools are not Fallowing Govt order regarding fees.

Srinagar/15 June

The parents of wards studying in IMI srinagar said that they were called by the school management for the collection of assignments but in the garb of providing assignments the management asked the parents to clear their dues up to may 2021 including Tuition fee, Annual fee, Bus fee, Computer fee.
when the parents refered to the Govt order of payment of tuition fee only the management of the school refused to oblige and didn't provided the assignments to the parents. Infact they claimed that they are not obliged to follow any Govt order and unless parents pay all types of fee no assignments will be provided.
The parents then approached the CEO who told the parents to file a complaint in the grevience cell after which the parents approached the Director school education who patiently listened to the complaint.
We appeal the Commissioner secretary education to take strict action against the school management as they always show high handedness and refuse to implement the govt orders.
We further want to know that if the school managements are refusing to implement the govt orders everytime what is the role of implemting agency as we parents always have to waste our time and approach the authorities for implementation of govt orders. Either the govt should stop issuing orders and let the parents fend for themselves or if the govt is serious then strict action should be initiated against the erring schools so that the parents take a sigh of relief.

04/05/2021

*Schools must reduce fees as classes are online, no overhead & maintenance costs: SC*



Demanding full fee commercialization and profiteering, said SC asking Rajasthan private schools to reduce fee by 15%

The Supreme Court has made some significant observations that are applicable to schools, colleges and other educational institutions in the time of pandemic when teaching has gone online for more than a year now.


The Supreme Court bench led by Justice Khanwilkar in a judgment noted that schools and educational institutions which remain closed for physical classes for the past more than a year and continue to do so must ideally reduce fees as their running and overhead costs of maintenance, electricity, petrol/diesel to run generators, water cost, stationery charges have come down with various facilities provided on campus remaining closed.

SC said that demanding fee for facilities not availed amounts to “profiteering and commercialization”, adding “overheads and operational costs so saved would be nothing, but an amount undeservedly earned by the school without offering such facilities to the students."

By saying this, the Supreme Court directed Rajasthan private schools to give a 15% deduction In annual school fees for the period 2020-21. The SC was hearing an appeal filed by some private schools of Rajasthan against HC order upholding the Rajasthan government's direction to schools to give a deduction of 30% in fees. Striking down that rule, the SC said that the appellants are justified in challenging the government order. However, that does not give licence to the appellants “to be rigid and not be sensitive about the aftermath of the pandemic."

In law, the school management cannot be heard to collect fees in respect of activities and facilities which are, in fact, not provided to or availed by its students due to circumstances beyond their control.

Demanding fees even in respect of overheads on such activities would be nothing short of indulging in profiteering and commercialisation. It is a well­known fact and judicial notice can also be taken that, due to complete lockdown, the schools were not allowed to open for a substantially long period during the academic year 2020­21.

Resultantly, the school Management must have saved overheads and recurring cost on various items such as petrol/diesel, electricity, maintenance cost, water charges, stationery charges, etc. the bench said.

The parents, who are demanding a cut in fees, told the bench that the schools have saved a colossal amount of money during the online classes towards electricity charges, water charges, stationery charges and other miscellaneous charges which are required for the physical running of the school. Agreeing with the parents' contention, the bench said, “Indeed, overheads and operational costs so saved would be nothing, but an amount undeservedly earned by the school without offering such facilities to the students during the relevant period."

08/03/2021

*125 girls among 155 students get top 10 positions as over 80% pass 12th class examination in Kashmir*

Srinagar, March 8: Girls dominated top positions in all four streams as over 80 percent students passed 12th class examinations, the results of which were declared by the J&K Board of School Education on Monday.

In all 46987 out of 58397 students who appeared in the examination have been declared successful, a top BOSE official told .

Among the total students who appeared included 30960 boys and 27437 girls. Of these, 24291 boys and 22696 girls passed the examinations with overall pass percentage of 80.46%.

In all 155 students have secured top ten positions in all fours streams—Science, Commerce, Arts and Home Science and of them 125 have been bagged by the girls and 30 by the boys.

The results of the examinations held last year amid covid-19 pandemic were declared by the Board this morning.

The first 10 positions in Science stream were shared by 124 students—94 of them girls and 30 boys—while in Commerce, the first 10 positions were shared by 23 students, including 17 girls and six boys. 21 students—all of them girls—shared the first 10 positions in Arts stream. In Home Science, 10 girls shared the first 10 positions, the officials said.

In science stream fours students bagged first positions by securing 100 percent marks out of 500. They include Amal Sayeed daughter of Mohammad Sayeed Mir of CANDID Higher Secondary School, Nowgam, Hafsa Malik daughter of Ali Mohammad Malik of Iqbal Memorial Institute (Girls Wing) Hr. Sec. School, Bemina, Ishrat Muzafar daughter o Mohmmed Muzafar Malik of Kashmir Harvard HSS Habak Naseem Bagh Srinagar and Zainab Quadri daughter of Abdul Majid Quadri of Salfia Muslim Institute Parray Pora Srinagar. Nine students—six of them girls and 3 of them boys—got second position with 498 (99.6%) marks while six students got 497 marks (99.4%) to grab third position in the Science stream and five of them were girls.

In commerce stream Zeenat Fayaz daughter of Fayaz Ahmad Dar of Government Girls Hr. Sec.School, Nawa Kadal Srinagar bagged first position by securing 493 marks (98.6%) while two students each bagged second (98%) and third (97.6%) positions respectively.
In Home Science, Sabeera Rashid daughter of Hafiz Abdul Rashid of Govt.GIRLS Hr. Sec. School, Kothibagh got 490 (98.0%) marks to grab the first position while those at the second and third position scored 483 and 482 marks respectively.

In Arts Stream, Khushboo Nazir daughter of Nazir Ahmad Dar of Govt. Girls Hr. Sec. School, Bijbehara scored the first position by getting 100% marks. Second position holder got 497 marks while three students scored third position with 495 marks.

Of the total students, 23207 got distinction, while 17666, 5670 and 443 secured first, second and third divisions respectively, they said.(Agencies)

08/03/2021

J&K BOSE declares result of Class 12th. To check yours click here: http://jkboseresult.jkbose.ac.in/Results/58/Annual2020RegularKashmir12_58/E58_Result.aspx

26/02/2021

Congratulations to Rutba javeed of Kashmir Harvard Educational Institute for qualified as topper in 10th Class Results which had been declared to today in Kashmir Division.