November session not new for Kashmir schools: Education Minister

Srinagar, Nov 4: Minister for Education Sakina Itoo Monday said that the government would “smoothly” conduct the annual examination of students up to class 9th in December this year and ensure all the facilities are available to the students on time.

Talking to reporters after the Legislative Assembly session, Itoo said that holding exams in schools across Kashmir during this season was nothing new for the students as the practice was in vogue till 2022.

“We used to conduct the exams in November-December earlier as well. So this year we will hold the exams smoothly,” she said.

About the apprehensions about the snowfall in December, the education minister said that the department, in the past, had conducted exams in December as well.

“We are not going to do anything unique. Exams have been conducted in the past as well,” she said.

Itoo said that the department would ensure that all the facilities were put in place on time in the exam centres and wherever required to ensure, the exam was conducted smoothly.

“We will ensure that students will not face any difficulties or any issues during the exam. All the facilities will be provided in plans and far-off areas as well,” she said.

The National Conference (NC)-led government announced the restoration of the November session for schools up to class 9th from the current academic session.

The formal announcement was made by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

While making the announcement, CM Omar said that for a long time, especially from the winter zones of Kashmir and Jammu, parents and children had been asking for a change in the school exam schedule and were demanding that the old system be reinstated.

The decision to restore the November session was taken two years after the Lieutenant Governor (LG)-led administration shifted the session to March to have a “uniform academic policy”.