EDUCATION

A B.Tech student from Kashmir, currently in his second year at Gulzar Group of Institutes in Khanna, Punjab was discovered lifeless in his hostel room. Originally from Baramulla, the young student had been unwell, failing to wake up in the morning, leading to heightened concern among his roommates, reported Hindustan Times. Urgently taken to the civil hospital, medical professionals declared him deceased. The Sadar Khanna police have initiated a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the untimely demise. As part of their inquiries, the victim's roommates and fellow Kashmiri friends studying at the institute are being questioned. According to Inspector Davinderpal Singh of the Sadar Khanna police station, the student had informed his roommates about feeling...

On Wednesday evening, the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) arrested a 24-year-old Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) student, Faizan Bakhtyar, from Aligarh. The Police accused Bakhtyar of "radicalizing" youth by promoting ISIS ideology with the aim of establishing "Islamic rule" in the country. This marks the eighth arrest in connection with this case since November 2023. The arrest followed the identification of Bakhtyar's involvement after Abdullah Arslan, Maaz bin Tariq, and Wajihudeen were apprehended, all linked to the same self-radicalized group. Bakhtyar, pursuing a Master of Social Work at AMU, was allegedly part of an ISIS module within the university, planning major terror incidents. The ATS claims the group, associated with Students of Aligarh Muslim University,...

The MPhil degree has been deemed invalid by the University Grants Commission (UGC), accompanied by a warning to universities to cease MPhil admissions in accordance with Clause 14 of the Commission. Secretary Manish Joshi issued a notification addressing concerns about some universities soliciting fresh applications for the M.Phil. (Master of Philosophy) program. The notification underscores that the M.Phil. degree lacks recognition, citing Regulation No. 14 of the UGC Minimum Standards and Procedures for Award of Ph.D. Degree) Regulations 2022, which explicitly prohibits Higher Educational Institutions from offering M.Phil. programs. Secretary UGC highlighted that the Commission formulated the University Grants Commission (Minimum Standards and Procedures for Award of Ph.D. Degree) ...

Ahead of admission session in educational institutes of Kashmir, School Education Department Saturday warned recognized private schools from conducting screening procedures or interviews of children and charging capitation fee. Besides, the department also said that the private recognized schools of Kashmir division shall desist from charging the admission fee and other non-notified fees. According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Director of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) in a circular said that it has come to the notice of DSEK that some recognized private schools charge capitation fee at the time of admission and subject the students and their parents or guardians to screening test. Section 13 of Right to Education Act 2009 clarifies that ‘no school or person sh...

Jammu and Kashmir Higher Education Department Thursday announced winter vacations for all degree college of Jammu and Kashmir Division in a phased manner from December-27-2023 to February-14-2024 in Kashmir division. According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) Principal Secretary, Higher Education Department, Alok Kumar said that government Degree Colleges of Kashmir region shall observe the vacations from December-27-2023 to February-14-2024. The principal secretary also said that all GDCs of Jammu division falling under Winter Zone shall observe the winter vacations from same date fixed for degree colleges of Kashmir division. However, in case of GDCs of Jammu division falling under summer Zone shall observe vacations from January-01 to January-10-2024. Pertinent...

Amidst the winter break, a concerning trend has emerged among certain private schools and coaching centers. Despite the holiday period, these institutions have been persisting with tuition classes, pressuring students to attend and disregarding the mandated break, as per the education department officals's order accessed by The Kashmiriyat. Taking note of this issue, authorities have intervened swiftly and the directed the  officials to issie strict instructions to cease these activities immediately. It has been emphasized that conducting classes during the designated break period goes against established regulations and must be stopped. In addition to directing the school and coaching center management, steps have been taken to intensify monitoring measures. Zonal-level mon...

The educational prospects of numerous students in Jammu and Kashmir hang in limbo, with the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (BOSE) declining to accept examination forms from class 10th students enrolled in private schools situated on state-owned land, reported Greater Kashmir. This decision has sparked apprehensions and raised concerns over the board's actions, as it appears to defy a stay order issued by the J&K High Court against a government directive from the previous year. The predicament originated in 2022 when the J&K government amended rules under the Education Act 2002, introducing new guidelines for the use of land and building structures by private schools in the region. These amendments were executed by the J&K Lieutenant Governor in the Jammu a...

Directorate of School Education Jammu (DSEJ) Friday announced winter vacations in winter zones in a phased manner from December-11 to February-29. According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), DSEJ in an order said that all government schools and recognised private schools upto Higher Secondary Level of winter zone of Jammu Division shall observe winter vacations. DSEJ said that the classes upto 8th standard shall observe the vacations from December-11-2023 to February-29-2024 and the classes from 9th to 12th standard shall observe the vacations from December-18 to February-29 respectively. The directorate further ordered that the Chief Education Officers shall ensure online classes for Class 10 and 12th through CRC's. It also ordered that the teaching staff shall r...

With the early onset of winters, Jammu  Kashmir Higher Education Department Thursday ordered that it will conduct online classes in all government degree colleges of Kashmir region from Dec-01-2023. According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) Special Secretary to the government Dr Ravi Shanker Sharma in a communique said, “Due to early onset of winter, students enrolled in Government Degree Colleges of Kashmir Division are facing major challenge in commuting to college and, thereby, attending classes.” “Situation has got compounded due to disruption to normal class work with inadequate heating arrangements,” it reads. The communique further states that with the implementation of admission based on merit and choice, students have to travel distances or stay in Hostel o...

One hundred and fifty (150) government Schools in the four district of south Kashmir operate from rented spaces, official figures revealed. Official figures, quoted by local news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO), suggest that there are total 3622 schools in the entire South Kashmir range in which Anantnag district holds the highest number of schools in operation in Southern districts of Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama and Shopian. “There are 1537 government schools in Anantnag district, 773 in Kulgam, 892 in Pulwama, and 520 in the Shopian district,” figures state, adding that “Out of the total 3622 schools in South Kashmir, 150 schools are still operating in rented accommodations. Fourteen (14) schools are in Shopian, 79 in Anantnag district, 20 in Kulgam and 35 in the Pulwama district....