EDUCATION

In an ongoing process to rename schools after slain government force personnel, the historical Government degree college for Boys in Anantnag has been renamed. Established shortly after the partition of India and Pakistan, the college was granted a recognition in the year 1972 and was the sole college operating in the four districts of southern Kashmir. In an official communique, of which a copy is available with The Kashmiriyat, the admin has renamed the Government Degree College Anantnag in Khanabal after DySP Humayun Muzammil Bhat who was killed during an encounter in Anantnag district last year. The order also called for renaming of 32 other institutes spanning across Kashmir valley and Jammu division. In Srinagar, Government Boys High School, Narwara, Srinagar, now bears t...

The 'INDIA AGEING REPORT 2023,' jointly conducted by the International Institute for Population Sciences and the United Nations Population Fund, provides a comprehensive overview of the aging demographic in Jammu Kashmir. Jammu Kashmir emerges as a region with remarkable resilience against elderly poverty, boasting a mere 4.2 percent of its aged population falling below the poverty line. Among the elderly, constituting 9.4 percent of the region's population, Jammu Kashmir stands out with the highest life expectancy after the age of 60. Males exhibit a life expectancy of 20.3 percent, and females, 23.0 percent, making it the leader in this demographic indicator between 2015-19. The LASI survey sheds light on the usage of assistive devices among the elderly in India. Despite the ava...

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...