Dec 31 deadline for pvt schools to apply for extension

Vikas Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, November 21

Taking note over the delay by private schools of the winter zone (Jammu Division) to apply for extension in affiliation whose recognition/affiliation is up to November 2020, the J&K Board of School Education (JKBOSE) has directed all erring schools to apply for the same by December 31, 2019.

Sources said various reminders were sent to the heads of the private schools whose extension was pending with the school education board but the response was not encouraging as a very few had applied for the same and deposited the prescribed fee. They added that the BOSE authorities expressed displeasure over the inordinate delay by the erring schools to follow the order.

As a result, a circular was issued to the schools wherein, they were clearly told to apply for extension in the affiliation period as per the deadline fixed otherwise the head of these institutions would be responsible for any consequences. The heads of the schools were also warned that no further extension would be given to them if they failed to follow the order in letter and spirit.

Sources further said a meeting of the State Affiliation Committee (SAC) of BOSE was held on October 26 to examine applications seeking grant of affiliation to private schools. The meeting was chaired by Sarita Chouhan, Commissioner Secretary, School Education Department, and convened by Prof Veena Pandita, JKBOSE Chairperson.

During the meeting, the committee granted extension in affiliation to 124 schools of the Jammu division and 16 schools of the Kashmir division. As many as 89 schools from the Jammu division and 12 schools of the Kashmir province were granted conditional affiliation. The conditional affiliation in respect to extension and upgrade is subject to removal of deficiencies within a period of three months.

The board, in 2016, had initiated the process to conduct physical verification of the schools to verify their claims. A criteria was also fixed for granting affiliation to private schools after they fulfilled all mandatory facilities. There are over 5,000 private schools in J&K of which 2,276 are in the Jammu province.

In Jammu division, the 3 districts-Doda, Ramban and Kishtwar fall under the winter zone while few of the areas in Rajouri, Poonch, Udhampur, Reasi and Kathua districts fall under the winter zone.