Srinagar, Feb 16: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senior leader and former Education Minister Naeem Akhtar has slammed the authorities for turning the otherwise prestigious Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) into a hub of mismanagement and a center of mediocrity, where concerted attempts are at play to plunge the future of the student fraternity into oblivion.
In a statement issued here, Akhtar called for the overhaul of JKBOSE, citing numerous reports of mismanagement, including the recent omission of important chapters from textbooks and the hasty replacement of the word “State” with “UT.” He pointed out that even the phrase “State of Mind” has been changed to “UT of Mind” by the JKBOSE authorities.
“It would have been ridiculous and hilarious if it were not so serious. The fact is that the future of our children is in the hands of a few illiterate people who masquerade as academicians. It is time their antecedents are checked and made public,” Akhtar said.
He expressed hope that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah would intervene in the matter and put an end to the nonsensical measures being taken in the name of updating the curriculum at JKBOSE.
Akhtar said that besides all this mess, the non-availability of textbooks is exposing the student fraternity to grave hardships and is akin to denying them the right to education. Akhtar stated that things have come to such a pass that department of education is asking students to rely on secondhand and used textbooks. “Even during the despotic rule, Jammu and Kashmir has never witnessed such a sorry state of affairs, and education is becoming the first casualty,” Akhtar said.
He added that it is deeply worrying that even Kashmir’s revered saint, Sheikh-ul-Alam (r.a), has been removed from the textbooks, and his life and teachings will no longer be taught to the students of this land. “The teachings and wise sayings of Sheikh-ul-Alam are what Kashmir is known for—its inclusivity, tolerance, and love for fellow creatures. One wonders what good could be achieved by removing such chapters from the textbooks,” he said.Iconic literary figures like Allama Iqbal and Agha Shahid Ali too have been removed. Iqbal is a world-renowned poet who celebrates his Kashmiri origins, and Agha Shahid Ali ranks among the best English poets in the world,” Akhtar said.
The former education minister also expressed grave concern over the denial of exam forms to students of a private school. “JKBOSE must have a heart, if not a mind. We know the institution is now functioning without its mind, but it should at least have a heart to feel for the poor students who have been debarred from sitting in the exams. This is about their future, and cynical measures are at play to deny the youth of Jammu and Kashmir opportunities for good education. These are the same young minds who have been shining in competitive examinations and proving their mettle in all fields of knowledge,” Akhtar said.
He added that with such inefficiencies, it is difficult to expect the present board to be able to carry out the examination process without problems. “Examination season is here and it’s imperative for the chief minister to have a detailed review of the arrangements and vigilance to ensure fair process,” Akhtar added.
