This time no cut in board syllabus, exams likely to held in Oct or Nov

The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) is likely to hold the annual exams of Classes X and XII in October-end or first week of November. However, this time there will be no relaxation in the syllabus unlike last year even as schools have been directed to complete the curriculum in time for the exams.
Acting Chairperson of JKBOSE Veena Pandita said, “the exams are likely to be conducted in the last week of October or first week of November. We will talk to government and decide.”
“I think till that time the students will be able to complete their syllabus and appear for the exams. The date is not final, we will come up with the final dates in two weeks,” the official added.
Secretary, School Education, Farooq Ahmad Shah recently made it clear that the board was finalising the exam preparations and students with less than 90 per cent attendance won’t be allowed to appear in exams.
During the unrest triggered after the killing of militant leader Burhan Wani last year, the schools and colleges in the Valley remained close for more than five months. While students of Classes I to XI were given mass promotion due to incomplete syllabus, the students of Classes X and XII could appear for the exams with a relaxed criterion for the syllabus.
Due to the frequent closure of schools this year also, the students have claimed that their syllabus remained incomplete as they had not been able to attend the classes regularly.
“The government shut schools many times this year so that should be counted before making 90 per cent attendance mandatory,” said Tabish Nissar, a student of Class X.
However, officials have made it clear that there would be no relaxation in syllabus. The Department of Education recently directed all schools to complete the syllabus and hold extra classes.
Minister of Education Syed Altaf Bukhari had also said the relaxation and mass promotions won’t be repeated as they affect the intellectual capability of the students in a long run.
“We have been strictly told to complete the syllabus and hold extra classes, because the trend of syllabus relaxation and mass promotions has affected the learning levels among the students. They won’t be able to compete in national-level exams,” said an official from the Education Department.
“We will try to complete the syllabi of Classes X and XII on time,” he said.