SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Education Minister, Sakina Itoo, announced on Thursday that students enrolled in government-run schools will receive free textbooks by the end of January.
The minister also clarified that there will be no syllabi curtailment for students appearing in the upcoming board exams.
During a media interaction, the minister said, “All textbooks will be made available by January end. It took some time to arrange free textbooks for the students.”
When asked about the potential curtailment of syllabi for the upcoming board exams, Sakina stated, “There will be no relaxation in syllabi for the board exams because the session has only been changed up to the 9th standard.”
“The date sheets have already been issued, and we have consulted students who informed us that they are already preparing for the exams,” she added.
Regarding the selling of textbooks by private schools within their premises, the Education Minister said that the government has constituted district and zonal-level committees. “These committees have been tasked with monitoring violations so that appropriate action can be taken against private schools found engaging in such practices.”
She further stated that the School Education Department will regulate private coaching during the winter vacations in accordance with the norms set by the government.
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, speaking on the occasion, said, “The government will address the issue of dysfunctional technical colleges in Jammu and Kashmir. We will streamline the matter soon.”
After two weeks of winter vacation, students in government-run schools had not yet received free textbooks from the authorities—raising concerns over the functioning of JKBOSE.
The delay in delivering textbooks has left thousands of students in a difficult position as the School Education Department has failed to distribute the course materials on time.
In the last week of December 2024, Chief Education Officers (CEOs) from the Kashmir region informed the Director of School Education, Kashmir (DSEK), in a meeting that they had submitted the actual requirements of books as per the enrolment for the 2024-25 academic session to JKBOSE. “However, the receipt of such books is still awaited.”
Following the conclusion of the previous academic session, the minister had assured that students would receive free textbooks immediately after their annual exams.
The minister had also directed JKBOSE to ensure timely delivery of free textbooks. (KNO)
