No student will miss exam: BOSE Chairman

Srinagar, Dec 15: Amid a massive outcry, J&K Board of School Education (BOSE) Chairman Parikshit Singh Manhas Friday said that no student would miss the class 10th, 11th, or 12th examination noting that the careers of students would not be jeopardised.

Talking to Greater Kashmir, he said that the examination forms for all students were being accepted by the BOSE.

“However, there are certain schools that are not able to fulfill the norms set by the State, resulting in the suspension of their affiliation. This is because these schools are either established on State or Nazool land,” Manhas said.

The statement comes after there was a hue and cry against BOSE for declining the examination forms of the students enrolled in the private schools which are established on State land.

The BOSE Chairman said that they would tag students of these private schools (defaulting schools) with nearby schools and allow them to appear for exams.

“We followed a similar process last year as few schools were facing the same issue. We are implementing the same procedure this year as well. The tagging of students from three schools has already been completed,” he said.

Manhas said that with the tagging of students with nearby government schools, the defaulting private schools believed that the issue was being resolved and they were trying to create problems by misleading everyone.

“It is important to note that no genuine student who has completed their classes will be left out. Their exam forms will be accepted,” he said.

The BOSE Chairman said that the government has set some guidelines that schools must fulfill, including obtaining various NoCs, which are mandatory for them.

“While some schools have complied with these guidelines, others are unable to do so, mainly due to land issues,” he said.

Manhas said that the schools that cannot comply were unable to receive proper certification.

"These schools are now creating issues for their students. However, JKBOSE has always taken care of all students and will continue to do so this year," he told Greater Kashmir.

Regarding the directions from the High Court to release Registration Return Forms (RRF), the BOSE chairman said that they had responded to the High Court by submitting the required replies through the lawyer.

“The defaulting schools are not an issue for us (BOSE) but for the state. If these schools cannot fulfill the formalities, our lawyers are presenting this aspect in court,” he said.

Manhas said that some of these “defaulting schools” were established on the land that does not belong to them, and the original landowners had filed complaints.

“The concerned Tehsildar has also submitted a report stating that the original owner is not the one who is running the school,” he said.

The BOSE Chairman reiterated that no student would be prevented from appearing in exams.

“If there is a delay in tagging due to the need to check nearby schools, and if this goes beyond the last date, we will not impose late fees on these students," he said.

Manhas said that no injustice would be done to the students as the fault lies with the schools, not the students.

Meanwhile, the President of Kashmir School Federation (KSF) Shakeel Hafiz said that the BOSE decision to not accept the forms of the students from their original schools was arbitrary, uncalled for, and unjustified as it is a violation of High Court directions.

“Approximately 2 lakh students, including orphans and underprivileged children, are enrolled in these schools established on state land,” he said.

Hafiz said that the matter was sub judice and the government at this juncture should allow the students of these schools to appear in the annual board exams.

Meanwhile, the President of Private Schools Association J&K (PSAJK) Ghulam Nabi Var said tagging private school students with nearby government schools indicates the government's intention to close down the private schools.

"Our schools have been functioning for decades in the Valley and we have also contributed in the education sector like the government sector. But the government is trying to crush our space," he said.