SRINAGAR: Amid closure of schools due to over four-month long unrest and shutdown in Valley, Jammu and Kashmir government on Thursday ordered mass promotion of students upto class 9th and 11th.
"Keeping in view the academic loss to the students due to the ongoing unrest and shutdown, the state government has decided to waive off the T2 examination of all classes including 8th, 9th and 11th except 10th and 12th of Kashmir. It has been decided promote the students to the next level," Director School Education Kashmir Aijaz Ahmad said.
He said the government order would be applicable to all government and recognized private schools of Kashmir.
“Prior to onset of the summer vacations in the Valley, partial assessment of students for Term-1 (T-1) was made for classes 8th, 9th and 11th. However, the classes for completion of syllabi for T-2 could not be held in the majority of the schools in valley due to the unrest,” reads the government order.
Director School Education Kashmir Aijaz Ahmad said the government has also ordered continuation of “No-Detention” policy from classes 5th to 8th for the current academic session.
“'No Detention Policy' for classes from 5th to 8th would be implemented from the next academic session,” he said.
It is the second time in two years that government has ordered mass promotion of students upto 9th class and 11th class in the Valley.
Earlier, after September 2014 floods, the then NC-Congress coalition government headed by Omar Abdullah had granted mass promotion to students upto class 9th and 11th.
Aijaz said it becomes imperative that the new session commences in time to save the precious time of the students. "The Education department shall hold the additional classes during winter to compensate the losses suffered by the students during the unrest".
All educational institutions in the Valley including schools and colleges have remained closed since July.
The educational institutions in Valley had closed for two-week summer vacations on July 1 and could not resume functioning due to the unrest triggered by killing of 21-year-old Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces on July 8.
Despite opposition and protests from students, the government has started the annual 10th and 12th class examinations with 50% syllabus-cut schedule this week.
Kashmir has been observing shutdown since July 9 on the call of separatist leaders. After 133 days of continuous shutdown, the separatists have announced two-day relaxation in strike on November 19 and 20.
At least 93 people have been killed, more than 13,000 injured and over 8000 arrested in last four months of unrest in the Valley.
2 miscreants held for arson of schools: Police
A police spokesman said police has solved a case of burning of schools and ransacking of another in central Kashmir’s Budgam district by arresting two miscreants.
“Government school at Habbar, Lassipora in Budgam was set ablaze by miscreants on October 27. The school suffered damages in the fire incident,” he said.
A private educational institution namely Hanfia Educational Institute at Shunglipora, Habbar in Budgam was also ransacked and damaged by miscreants.
“A special investigation team (SIT) was formed to probe both the incidents. During investigation and questioning of some suspects, it came to fore that some miscreants used to create disturbances in the area by hurling stones on vehicles as damaging public property by pelting stones,” the spokesman said.
He said it also come to fore during investigations that two miscreants namely Farooq Ahmad Malik alias Buda and Bilal Ahmad Malik alias Durani had hatched a conspiracy to set afire the government school.
“They had set on fire the school and both have confessed their guilt. They have also accepted their involvement in ransacking of another school,” the spokesman said adding the duo was arrested and further investigation is going on.