EDUCATION

A Physical Education Teacher (PET) at Higher Secondary School (HSS) Ajas in north Kashmir's Bandipora district was attached following allegations of his involvement in the physical assault on female students. A formal complaint, along with CCTV footage of the incident, was lodged against the teacher before the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Bandipora. The District Youth Services & Sports Officer, Bandipora, has immediately removed the teacher from his duties at HSS Ajas. He has been directed to report to the Directorate of Youth Services and Sports for further investigation. "This decision has been made to ensure a safe and conducive environment for our students and to facilitate a thorough investigation into the matter," the order said. Meanwhile, the news agency—Kashmir News...

Parents in Kashmir are urging the newly-formed Omar Abdullah-led government to reconsider the academic session schedule, seeking a return to the traditional November start. The current March-April session, introduced in recent years, has been deemed unsuitable for the valley's climate and educational needs. Parents have expressed frustration over the existing schedule, citing the lengthy winter break that forces students to revisit material already covered. "The March-April session is a wastage of time and energy for our children," a group of parents told the news agency Kashmir News Trust. "Students study from March to November, only to repeat the same curriculum during the winter break,” they said. Previously, the academic session in Kashmir began in November, aligning wit...

Dozens of private schools in Kashmir are being found operational on the eve of official holidays, defying government regulations. This blatant disregard for official holidays has become a recurring issue, with teachers alleging they are forced to report to work even on designated days off. Teachers from various schools revealed to Kashmir News Trust that they are directed to attend work on official holidays, citing instances like the recent Sunday when they were compelled to collect fees from parents in exchange for unit test results. This, they claim, amounts to sheer harassment by school authorities. "We barely enjoy any official holiday," said a teacher, requesting anonymity. Last Sunday, all teachers were directed to report to work. The day was fixed to extract fees from paren...

The Department of Hindi, University of Kashmir (KU), celebrated Hindi Diwas here Thursday, with an engaging inaugural session attended by notable dignitaries and literary enthusiasts. KU Vice Chancellor (VC), Prof Nilofar Khan, who presided over the ceremony, emphasised the significance of Hindi in both local and global contexts. In her opening remarks, Prof Khan as per a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), commended the Department of Hindi for its versatile progress and the inclusion of international students. “The promotion of the Hindi language is crucial and the university administration stands ready to support the department’s initiatives. I encourage regular workshops and national and international seminars to enhance language skills among studen...

The Committee for Fixation and Regulation of Fee of Private Schools, J&K (FFRC) Wednesday directed one of the leading private school to pay Rs 16 lacs within a period of 15 days for violating its orders. According to the official communique of FFRC, a copy of which lies with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), in August-2024, the school management was directed to deposit Rs 9.60 lacs within the period of ten days as penalty. “Ten days were given to the school management to deposit the said amount, the next date fixed in the case was September-02-2024,” it reads. It also said that the school had submitted its file for regulation of its fees structure which was processed and accordingly the fees structure of the school was regulated and fixed. “Despite the fees being fi...

Tajamul Naseem Lone, a higher secondary school teacher from Baramulla, North Kashmir, has been selected for the Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Programme (2024-2025) in the United States. Lone, who hails from Dangiwacha in Rafiabad, will participate in a six-week professional learning experience at a U.S. university, where international educators explore teaching methodologies, student-centered learning, and instructional technology. Coming from a modest background, Lone credits his success to the support from Government Higher Secondary School (GHSS) Dangiwacha and mentorship from Fulbright alumnus Rameez Sudan. The 38-year-old is the only participant from Kashmir this year and one of just seven from India selected for this prestigious program, which emphasizes glob...

Bhat Yasir In a world where educators often strive for better pay and recognition, Harjinder Kour stands out with her extraordinary dedication to education. A retired government teacher, Kour receives just 11 rupees a month for her services at the school, a gesture that speaks volumes about her commitment to education and society. Kour, who got retired in the year 2022, now serves as the principal at Guru Nanak Dev Model High School Baramulla—a role she accepted under remarkably humble terms. Despite her impressive background and experience, she is working at a meagre amount. While talking to The Kashmiriyat, Kour said that the management of Guru Nanak Dev Model High School, which has been established in 1974, approached her, recognizing her unparalleled experience and passi...

Urfana Amin, a dedicated teacher from Srinagar, has been selected for the prestigious National Teachers' Award. She is one of 50 distinguished educators from across the country who will receive this honor, which will be presented by the President of India in New Delhi on Teachers' Day, September 5, Srinagar based daily Greater Kashmir reported. Urfana, a resident of Bhagat-e-Shoor Lal Bazaar, is currently serving as a master grade teacher at Government Boys Higher Secondary School Soura. Her selection for the award followed a rigorous process, where she stood out among 154 shortlisted candidates from numerous applicants nationwide. Reflecting on her achievement, Urfana expressed gratitude to her friends, colleagues, and family, particularly her in-laws and husband, for their un...

Over 500 families facing uncertainty due to current waiting list regulations, causing concerns among the families. In a press release issued to The Kashmiriyat, the students said that despite their names appearing on these lists, many candidates are losing hope as the recent wave of mass resignations renders these lists practically meaningless, leaving their futures in limbo. The region's exams, which often take 3-4 years to complete, further exacerbate the situation. “In stark contrast to states like Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, and Gujarat, where youth employment is a priority and timely measures are taken, Jammu and Kashmir's silence is deafening,” a concerned candidate told The Kashmiriyat. “How long must these voices go unheard? How long must families endure this hardship? There i...

The latest National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) by the Union Ministry of Education has revealed significant shifts in the standings of universities in Jammu and Kashmir. The University of Kashmir (KU) fell 12 places to 45th among Indian universities, while the University of Jammu (JU) made a notable entry into the top 50, ranking 50th. In the overall rankings, KU is positioned 69th and JU is 87th nationally. This marks the first time JU has broken into the top 50 universities. No other institutions from Jammu and Kashmir are in the top 100. In addition to KU and JU, six other institutions from the region have been recognized in their categories: the two agricultural universities, IIT Jammu, IIM Jammu, NIT Srinagar, and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University. Despite KU's ...