HED asks universities, autonomous colleges to align exams with academic calendar

Srinagar, Dec 11: The Higher Education Department (HED) on Wednesday directed universities in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) to align their examination schedules with the newly notified academic calendar.

The directive follows the HED's announcement of a comprehensive academic calendar for all educational activities and examinations across the J&K Union Territory.

According to the calendar, summer vacations for colleges in Kashmir and Winter Zones will be observed from July 15 to 24, while winter vacations will take place from December 27 to February 14. In the Jammu Division and Summer Zone colleges, summer vacations will be observed from June 1 to July 15, and winter vacations will be from January 1 to January 10.

The academic calendar also specifies that odd semester term-end examinations in both Kashmir and Winter Zone colleges, as well as in Jammu and Summer Zone colleges, will be conducted from December 1 to December 31. Even semester term-end examinations are scheduled from June 15 to July 14 for all regions.

The HED noted that universities sometimes schedule examinations during vacation periods, causing disruptions for both students and faculty. "This practice not only disrupts the planned break for students and faculty but also leads to logistical challenges for the colleges," the official notification said.

The notification was addressed to the Dean of Academic Affairs at the University of Kashmir, the University of Jammu, as well as Cluster Universities in Srinagar and Jammu. Principals of autonomous degree colleges were also included in the directive.

The HED highlighted the challenges posed by extreme climate conditions during peak winter and summer months. "The winter zone experiences severe cold waves and dense fog, while the summer zone faces scorching heatwaves, making it difficult for students and faculty to commute and carry out any academic activity during these periods," the notification said.

To address these issues, the HED has instructed universities to ensure that no examinations are scheduled during vacation periods. "This will help maintain the integrity of the academic calendar, allowing students and faculty to enjoy their well-deserved breaks without disruption. Additionally, it will mitigate the difficulties posed by severe climatic conditions, ensuring a smoother and more comfortable academic experience for everyone involved," the notification said.