New J&K government returns to November academic session in Kashmir

The newly formed Jammu and Kashmir government has made it clear that from next year it will scrap the ‘Unified Academic Policy’ of the Lieutenant Governor-led administration and return it to the old academic session in educational institutions of the Kashmir Valley, where exams will be held in October. -November instead of the current March session.

The decision appears to have been influenced by demands from parents, civil society and scholars of the Kashmir Valley, who argue that the November session is suitable for Kashmiri students due to the weather, which then allows them to have a three-month winter break until February when the academic year begins. new training session.

The Jammu and Kashmir administration, headed by the Lieutenant Governor, issued an order in 2022 to introduce a “unified academic calendar” for both Jammu and Kashmir districts, “synchronized with the higher education department and the rest of the country.”

Earlier this week, Education Minister Sakina Itoo told the media that she would seek people’s feedback on the modified session, but later said the administration’s move to the March academic session in the Kashmir Valley was not well received by the people.

“Given public demand, I don’t think there is a need to put this issue out in the open to get feedback. I have already received a demand from many people to restore the November session in schools,” she said.

Considering the public demand and the government’s statements, many political leaders, including members of the opposition, have also expressed their willingness to change the session held in November.

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed support for resuming the November school session, hailing it as a necessary reversal of what it called a “clearly retrograde decision.”

Former education minister and NDP leader Naeem Akhtar criticized the unified March academic session for causing significant academic losses. He stressed that the October-November session was held several decades ago keeping in mind the unique climatic and topographical challenges of Jammu and Kashmir.

“We welcome the government’s action and hope it will be the first step towards meaningful education reforms,” ​​Akhtar said.

People’s Conference President Sajjad Lone also expressed support for the reinstatement of the academic examination session in November. “Beyond the weather conditions, this gives our students an academic advantage. Most admissions begin in June. Our students will receive six additional months to prepare for entrance exams and admission. From a climatic point of view, the academic session in Kashmir is ideal for end-of-year exams. And academically, it gives our students a vital advantage. It’s not clear why they changed it,” he said.

Experts also said that the March session resulted in loss of working days for students of Kashmir Valley.

“The November session is better for the Kashmir zone as this way we will get more working days. If we look at a single academic calendar with March sessions, then our students (in Kashmir) will face losses,” said Farooq Ahmad Pir, former academic director and secretary, J&K board of school education.

“I have also noticed that the March session has caused stress among the students of the valley… The November session will also give enough time to the students of the valley to prepare for the competitive exams,” he said.