Exam Form Row | SED grants affiliation to Army Goodwill Schools

Srinagar, Dec 20: Amid the uncertainty about the private schools having land issues, the School Education Department (SED) has granted affiliation in favour of Army Goodwill Schools (AGS) bringing a major relief for the students and management as well.

The School Education Department vide its official communication number No: Edu-Ptsh/107/2021-01(101734) dated December 19 of 2023 to Secretary Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (BOSE) has approved grant of affiliation and recognition in favour of Army Goodwill Schools (AGS) across Jammu and Kashmir.

"I am directed to forward herewith a copy of OM No. LGS-1(GR) 23/346  dated September 13 of 2023 received from the Lieutenant  Governor's  Secretariat, Raj  Bhawan,  Srinagar  and  keeping  in view the academic  interests of orphan/weaker  section/poor students, I am to convey provisional permission subject to the conditions that the concerned schools shall complete the documentation formalities for regular registration within the stipulated course of time as per norms," reads an official communication signed by Under Secretary in School Education Department (SED) Neha Bakhshi.

A copy of the official communication has been sent to the Director School Education Kashmir and Jammu division with the "request" to furnish the current status of the affiliation and recognition of Army Goodwill Schools.

President Private Schools Association Jammu and Kashmir (PSAJK) G N Var welcomed the government decision to grant provisional permission to Army Goodwill Schools noting that the move will bring relief to the students enrolled in these institutions.

"It is a welcome move of the government. We hope that the J&K Lieutenant Governor will personally intervene in the matter so that other schools are also given some relaxation and students will appear in class 10th exams from their respective schools," G N Var said.

The relaxation of provisional permission to Army Goodwill schools has been given amid the government assurances that no student will miss the class 10th annual regular-2024 class 10th examination.

The Advisor to J&K Lieutenant Governor Rajiv Rai Bhatnagar earlier told Greater Kashmir that students were being facilitated to appear in the class 10th examination."The effort is that no students should suffer," Bhatnagar had said.

As already reported by this newspaper, the Chairman JKBOSE Dr Parikshat Singh Manhas said that JK Board was trying to give relaxation to schools with minimal issues while there are other schools for which no chance is being made.

"We are trying to provide relief to schools with minimal issues. We are not against private schools as they are our own schools. But in case of some schools there are no chances to give relaxation and students of these schools will be tagged with other schools to appear in class 10th exam," he said.

As already reported, the issue came to light after the J&K government in 2022 (April 15 of 2022) amended the rules under the Education Act 2002 to provide for fresh guidelines relating to use of land and building structures by private schools in the UT.

The amendments were made by the Lieutenant Governor (LG) in the Jammu and Kashmir School Education Rules, 2010 in exercise of the powers conferred by section 29 of the Jammu and Kashmir School Education Act, 2002.