The Jammu and Kashmir government has withdrawn its order directing school heads to depute teachers with students to their exam centres. Secretary school education department Farooq Ahmad Shah said there is no such order which is valid. “There is no such valid order where teachers have to be deputed with students to their exam centres,” Shah said.
He said the officers are directed to desist from issuing such orders. “Strict action will be taken against the official who will issue such orders at their own level,” Shah said. “If any such order has been issued at any level, it stands cancelled.” Interestingly, an order was issued by State Institute of Education (SIE) directing school heads to depute a teacher for escorting upper primary class students appearing in their annual exams, which commenced on October 16.
In its circular, SIE- which monitors the annual exams for classes 5 to 7, had directed headmasters of government schools to depute a teacher to escort the students to their exam centres. However, the circular had drawn flak from teachers particularly in rural areas who stated that accompanying students to their exam centres will hamper the functioning of their own schools.
“Besides, 5 to 7th class cluster level exams, we are also conducting exams of lower class students. We have dearth of staff in schools particularly in rural areas,” said a teacher posted in Kupwara district, wishing not to be named.
