DSEK tightens noose against students skipping regular classes
Srinagar, Sep 08: The Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) has tightened its noose against the high and higher secondary class students over skipping regular classes in schools.
In this regard, a circular has been issued to all school heads and made it mandatory to strictly maintain attendance records of students in classes 9th to 12th.
Citing the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, DSEK said that consistent classroom attendance was crucial to achieve the vision of competency-based learning, hands-on activities, peer engagement, and teacher-student interaction.
"National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) envisions education not merely as academic instruction but as a holistic journey nurturing students' intellectual curiosity, emotional intelligence, creative expression, ethical awareness and social skills," the DSEK circular reads.
"To realize this vision, especially through experiential learning and collaborative projects, regular class attendance is not only essential but the backbone to achieve competency-based learning, critical hands-on activities, teacher interactions and peer engagement, which NEP 2020 aims to cultivate among students," it reads.
The DSEK has said that number of students of classes 11th and 12th are skipping regular classes and the trend is spreading to class 9th and 10th.
"This is a matter of serious concern as it will impact to achieve the objectives of student development as envisioned by NEP-2020," it reads.
The move comes amid the complaints against the high and higher secondary schools for encouraging dummy admissions in schools to attend regular classes at private coaching centres.
The DSEK said that regular school attendance was mandatory and the school curriculum was designed to provide comprehensive learning and missing classes can create significant gaps in a student's effective learning.
"In view of the above and to ensure that the goals of NEP-2020 with regard to holistic development of students are achieved, it is hereby enjoined upon all stakeholders to ensure strict enforcement of student attendance in all government and private recognised schools through VSK attendance Chatbot, Aadhaar based attendance," the circular reads. The DSEK has instructed Principals to ensure that practical classes in science subjects are conducted regularly as these are crucial for hands-on learning.
All the Principals and faculty have been asked to take proactive measures to ensure students attend regular classes and create an engaging, academically enriching environment in schools in line with NEP-2020 which emphasizes on experiential learning.
"All Joint Directors, Chief Education Officers, Cluster Heads, and Zonal Education Officers shall personally monitor compliance of circular instructions," the circular reads.
It reads that non-compliance with the above instructions shall be viewed seriously and may attract disciplinary action as warranted.
