SRINAGAR: The Directorate of School Education Jammu (DSEJ) has ordered a division-wide verification of all educational material available in government schools, recognised private schools and coaching centres, directing authorities to complete the exercise within seven days and submit compliance reports through a time-bound mechanism.
The directive follows the recent controversy over alleged objectionable and separatist-related content found in books supplied to government schools and libraries across the Union Territory.
According to an official circular, all Heads of Institutions (HoIs) have been instructed to inspect every publication available in classrooms, libraries, laboratories, offices, staff rooms and other institutional facilities. The verification will cover both newly supplied and existing books to ensure that no publication contains objectionable, anti-national, factually incorrect or otherwise inappropriate material.
The Directorate said the exercise is aimed at ensuring that educational resources conform to constitutional values, national integrity, communal harmony, existing laws and the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP)-2020. Institutions have also been directed to verify that all reading material is age-appropriate and academically relevant for students.
If any objectionable content is detected, institutions have been asked to immediately prepare a detailed report specifying the title of the publication, the author, publisher, nature of the objectionable material and the number of copies available.
All government schools, recognised private schools and coaching centres have been directed to submit compliance certificates to their respective Zonal Education Officers (ZEOs) by July 13, confirming that every publication has been examined. Institutions identifying objectionable material must attach a detailed report along with the compliance certificate.
The circular further directs ZEOs to scrutinise and consolidate the reports before forwarding them to the respective Chief Education Officers (CEOs) by July 15. The CEOs have been asked to submit district-wise consolidated compliance reports to the Directorate by July 17, after which the Joint Directors will compile a final division-wide report for submission to the Director School Education Jammu.
The Directorate has warned that any negligence, delay or failure to comply with the instructions will invite strict disciplinary action against the officials concerned under the applicable service rules.
The verification drive comes after the School Education Department withdrew the disputed books following widespread concern over alleged objectionable and separatist-related content. Subsequently, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha ordered a high-level inquiry, suspended eight School Education Department officials, disengaged a contractual employee and directed that educational material supplied to schools must be thoroughly vetted to prevent the inclusion of objectionable content in future.
Meanwhile, the Counter Intelligence Wing of the Jammu and Kashmir Police has registered a criminal case in connection with the controversy and is continuing its investigation, including searches at multiple locations in Jammu and Noida.
