Update - Exams of Lower classes: SCERT submits proposal to Govt for March session upto class 9th

Exams of Lower classes: SCERT submits proposal to Govt for March session upto class 9th

Srinagar, Sep 21: Amid speculations, Confusion over shifting of annual board exams to March for lower classes looms in Air , the Jammu and Kashmir State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) forwarded a proposal to the Principal Secretary, School Education Department suggesting for shifting of Accademic session to March.

According to minutes of meeting as per news agency reads that, a joint meeting of all the Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs) of SCERT was held in virtual mode to seek inputs on adoption of Uniform Academic Calendar upto class 9th in winter zone areas of JKUT and formulation of budget estimates 2022-23 Viz 2023-24.

“In the meeting a threadbare discussion was held with all stakeholders for smooth implementation of Uniform Academic Calendar upto class 9th in JKUT sync with the Uniform Academic Calendar notified by Government of Jammu & Kashmir (UT) for class 10th 11th and 12th, all participants in the meeting had agreed for adoption of Uniform Academic Calendar upto class 9th in JKUT, reads the minutes of meeting.

“All the participants in the meeting have agreed to implement Uniform Academic Calendar in rural and urban and winter zone areas in sync with the academic calendar of other classes 9th to 12th as notified by the government, it reads.

There shall be school based Student Assessment and Evaluation Scheme’ for all classes and Year End Assessment for classes 5th and 8th shall be conducted in the month of March every year in all schools across the JKUT to identify Potential Learners (Low Performer students) on the basis of performance and competency in assessment, who will be given remedial teaching to bring them at par with other students.

According to the minutes of the SCERT, “The uniform question papers for classes 5th and 8th shall be prescribed by SCERT J&K to familiarize and prepare the students about future Board Examinations.

In case some snow bound areas of Districts like Bandipora (Gurez), Kishtwar (Dachan, Madwa) Kathua, Kupwara etc their shall be separate series of question papers prescribed by SCERT JKUT, which will enable the respective Principals of DIETs, in consultation with ZEO and cluster heads to conduct ‘Year End Assessment’ as per their feasibility within two weeks, it reads.

SCERT said that it was unanimously agreed by all participants that there is sufficient human resource and infrastructure available for conducting of ‘Year End Assessment’ for classes 5th and 8th at Cluster Level and for other classes at School level.

All the Principal DIETs have submitted that adoption of Uniform Academic Calendar upto Class 9th in JKUT sync with the analogy of Class 10th to 12th as notified by the Government of JKUT and should be implemented.

In case of formulation of first budget estimates for the year 2023-24, 2022-23 (Revised), all DDO, Principal DIETs were sanitized about the budget formats prescribed by Finance Department; for which Whatsapp groups for budget and examinations were created by SCERT for immediate sharing of information, it reads.

During the meeting it was also decided that accounts staff and budget of SCERT and associated DIETs must prepare budget estimates in consonance with the sanctioned strength of SCERT and DIETs as per latest government orders issued for establishment of SCERT in JKUT.

All the participants Viz Joint Directors and Principal DIETs and other associated staff was advised to submit their inputs on a adoption of Uniform Academic Calendar upto class 9th in JKUT and budget estimates 2022-23 revised and 2023-24 on prescribed formats by 18.9.2022, it reads.

An Official in SCERT told Kashmir Bulletin that, SCERT have submitted a draft proposal to Principal secretary School Education department and have suggested him to go away with March session from current year, he said.

Its petinent to mention, as reported earlier that, DSEK have also submitted proposal to Govt and have suggested to hold exams of lower classes in November for current session, and have said that uniform academic calender must be followed from next year.

However till date no final decision has been taken by the Government.