Breather for private schools, allowed to continue with their own books

Rifat Mohidin

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, March 26

Minister of Education Syed Altaf Bukhari today said the private schools could continue with their own books but they must cover the syllabus prescribed by the J&K Board of School Education (BOSE).

The minister said the books by the private schools must fulfil the guidelines and directions of the government.

“We have asked all private schools that they can continue with their own books but they have to cover the syllabus prescribed by BOSE,” said Bukhari. The minister said private schools had also been directed that the prices of the books should meet the standards of the BOSE.

“The schools must not charge exorbitant rates from the students. The books will be approved by BOSE before being used by schools,” the minister said. The Private Schools Association of Kashmir (PSAK) has hailed the minister’s announcement.

Earlier, the BOSE had issued an order directing all private schools to prescribe the books issued by BOSE, but the private schools objected to the move saying it would jeopardise the entire academic year of the students who have started their studies after eight-long months. They said the books of BOSE were of low quality and it would bring down the standard of books already taught in schools.

“The order would have disrupted the entire academic year of Kashmir and put in jeopardy the future of more than six lakh students,” said GN Var, president, PSAK.

“We are thankful to the minister for not allowing such an order to disrupt the academic session of 2017 and allowing schools to continue with their curriculum as of now,” he said.

The association said there were complaints against the quality of BOSE books and the introduction of the same in private schools would have in no way improved the quality of education.

Var said they were always ready to work with the government to plug any loopholes and address any complaints that might come to the fore.