EDUCATION

Three female students from Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir have been given research fellowships, for their postgraduate studies at Kansas State University in Manhattan, USA, In the summer of 2023, Sabreena Ayoub, Midhat Zulafkar, and Muazzama Mushtaq from the faculties of horticulture, agriculture, and forestry, respectively, will go to the United States to begin their master's programmes at Kansas State Institution, the first public land-grant university in the world. On GWAS and herbicide tolerance in pearl millet, Sabreena and Midhat will work with Prof. PV Vara Prasad, Director of the Sustainable Intensification Innovation Lab at KSU, and Dr. Ram Perumal, Professor of Plant Breeding, while Muazzama will research soil carbon dynamics in...

In a shocking development, at least 14,929 government-run schools in Jammu Kashmir are without books in the libraries—thus raising a question on the functioning of the department and quality of education. The official figures reveal that among the total of 23,173 government-run schools in Jammu and Kashmir, at least 14,929 schools which amount to nearly 64 percent of the institutes are without books in the respective institutions. The news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) has learned that only 8244 government schools were availing of the facilities. Similarly, at least 47 percent of functional private schools in Jammu Kashmir san facilities for its students. The official figures reveal that out of the total number of private schools in Jammu Kashmir, only 47 percent of educat...

The University of Kashmir Wednesday revised the examination fee of "Mercy Chance, Division Improvement" to Rs 2600 per-candidate from Rs 2600 per-subject in view of concerns expressed by the students. A KU spokesperson in a statement regarding the charging of Rs 2600 examination fee per paper for the “mercy chance/division improvement” examination issued a detailed clarification on the matter. "The Mercy Chance/Division Improvement is a special category examination conducted by the University with the sole objective of securing the future prospect of the aspirants who want to either complete their long-pending degrees and/or improve their examination performance of their previously-completed degree programs," the spokesperson said, adding that the said special examination entails mor...

The opening of a liquor shop near a school in the Srinagar outskirts of Shiv Pora locality triggered a protest on Wednesday with many, including some Kashmiri Pandits residing in the vicinity calling for its closure. ALSO READ: Locals aghast, widespread anger over opening of new wine shop in Srinagar Locals from the Shivpora locality that falls under the jurisdiction of Badamibagh Cantonment Board staged a protest demanding the closure of the liquor shop as soon as possible. Some Kashmiri Pandits who reside in the locality were also part of the protest. One of the protesters who identified himself as Raviji Razdan told the news agency Kashmir News Trust that setting up a liquor shop close to a school will badly impact the students. He said authorities should shift this liquor shop ...

Authorities in Anantnag have kept the demarcation of five room laboratory block on hold due to unknown reasons with locals demanding an investigation into the matter. An official pleading anonymity told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that a laboratory was sanctioned for High School Brah Shangus but due to unknown reasons its demarcation process has been put on hold. He said that a laboratory block costing more than Rs one crore has been approved under the Union territory CAPEX budget for the School. “The specification for the said lab was 7,500 square feet but that was not possible later with the intervention of authorities and it was decided to construct a building of 3000-4000 square feet”, the official added. He said the revenue department identified the state land ...

The Government College for Women, Srinagar Monday conducted an event on the role of media in the fight against the drug menace. The event was organized by the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication in collaboration with the NSS wing of the college as part of the ongoing ‘My College, My Pride’ initiative. Besides students, the event was attended by faculty members of the college, an official communique of the Srinagar college read. Speaking on the occasion, Principal, Prof. (Dr.) Ruhi Jan Kanth said conducting such events is the need of the hour as drug abuse among youngsters has reached an alarming level. She reiterated the college’s commitment to making ‘Nasha Mukht Bharat’ (Drug-Free India) campaign a success. Prof. Ruhi also stressed the role of media and academic institu...

At least 18,431 government-run-schools are lacking medical facilities in Jammu Kashmir, putting a question mark over the claims about the development of educational institutes and healthcare of students. The official figures reveal that among the total of 23,173 government run schools in Jammu and Kashmir, at least 18,431 schools that amount to nearly 80 percent of the institutes are without medical facilities. The news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) has leant that only 4742 government schools were having medical facilities. The government guidelines require schools to provide free and compulsory education to students in public schools, some government schools charge a fee in the name of Red Cross fund that is meant for their first aid treatment of the students, which is one o...

The University of Kashmir (KU) is likely to announce winter vacations from first week of January 2023. Top officials of the varsity informed the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the management will announce the winter vacations from first week of January 2023. “As of now, we have not conducted the meeting with the deans of the university, but in the weeks time we will hold with them and will accordingly decide about the winter vacations,” the official said. He also said that examinations of several departments have also been slated during the remaining time till the winter vacations. “We will try to culminate those exams first and then we will take a call regarding the vacations.”—(KNO)

The Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura on Thursday announced winter vacation for the faculty members in two halves starting from January 01. It also noted that 50 per cent of the faculty members must remain available at once. "The Winter vacation holidays 2023 for Faculty Staff of SKIMS will be due w.e.f. 01.01.2023 to 28.01.2023 (1st half) and w.e.f. 01.02.2023 to 28.02.2023 (2nd half). In this behalf all Heads of Departments are requested to furnish the names of faculty members who are desirous to avail 1 half/2nd half of vacation. It may be kept in view that 50% of faculty staff is available in the department for both the halves,” reads a circular, a copy of which lies with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO). "Heads of departments must ensure t...

The School Education Department (SED) is grappling with problem of filling key vacant posts in Kashmir that includes five out of 10 positions of Chief Education Officer (CEO) continue to remain vacant which is affecting the academic and administrative functioning in the districts. Official figures available with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), suggest that there are around five out of 10 positions of CEOs, five out of 10 positions of Principal District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) are lying vacant in Kashmir division. "Some vacant positions are manned by other equivalent rank officers while in some districts the department is completely headless," an official said. As per the official figures the post of CEO Baramulla, Bandipora, Anantnag, Pulwama and Sr...