JKBOSE to Continue Class 11th Exams: Why Sakina Itoo’s Clarity Matters for Kashmir’s Students
By: Javid Amin | 03 October 2025
A Classroom of Anxiety
In a government higher secondary school in Pulwama, a group of Class 11th students huddle near the corridor. Their whispers are not about homework or games, but rumors.
“Have you heard? They’re scrapping the 11th board exam again.”
“No, someone said it’ll be just like before 2018, internal exams by schools.”
Confusion spreads faster than clarity in Kashmir’s fragile education system. For weeks, students and teachers had been caught in a whirl of speculation after Union Secretary Sanjay Kumar suggested that Class 11th exams should once again be handled internally by schools.
On October 3, 2025, Education Minister Sakina Itoo ended the suspense. Speaking in Srinagar, she made it unambiguous:
“JKBOSE will continue to conduct the annual examinations for Class 11th students. There should be no confusion. All three exams—10th, 11th, and 12th—will remain under the Board.”
Her words were more than a policy note; they were a sigh of relief for thousands of students preparing for board exams across the Valley.
Why This Announcement Matters
In Kashmir, where conflict and disruption have long plagued academic calendars, clarity itself is a form of stability. Exam-related uncertainty adds to the already heavy stress faced by students dealing with political shutdowns, internet bans, and frequent school closures.
By reaffirming JKBOSE’s authority, Itoo restored a sense of continuity and credibility to the system. Teachers, parents, and education experts welcomed the decision, arguing that board-conducted Class 11th exams are crucial for preparing students for competitive exams and instilling seriousness in studies.
A Look Back: Pre-2018 Chaos
Before 2018, Class 11th exams were conducted internally by schools. On paper, this meant flexibility. In practice, it meant inflated marks, inconsistent standards, and lack of accountability.
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Some schools awarded lenient marks to keep pass percentages high.
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Others lacked proper invigilation, allowing malpractice to flourish.
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Students treated Class 11th as a “free year,” only to crash in Class 12th board exams.
The result? When these students later appeared for competitive exams like NEET or JEE, many were underprepared. The gap between inflated internal results and actual competence was glaring.
That is why, in 2018, then Education Minister Altaf Bukhari shifted Class 11th exams back under JKBOSE. The aim was to standardize evaluation, instill discipline, and improve readiness for higher education. The reform was widely welcomed.
The Debate: Internal vs. Board Exams
Arguments for Internal Exams
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Flexibility for schools in scheduling and evaluation.
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Reduced stress for students.
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More focus on learning than marks.
Arguments for Board Exams
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Uniform standards across all schools.
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Greater credibility for marksheets.
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Seriousness instilled in students before Class 12th.
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Accountability and reduced malpractice.
In Kashmir, the case for board exams has always been stronger. With disruptions already limiting classroom learning, uniformity ensures that students from Sopore to Kathua are judged by the same yardstick.
Voices from the Ground
📣 A Teacher in Srinagar:
“Before 2018, Class 11th was almost like a holiday year. Students knew schools would pass them anyway. Once JKBOSE took over, the seriousness returned. Today’s confirmation was necessary.”
📣 A Parent in Anantnag:
“We invest in tuition and coaching. If exams were again left to schools, what’s the guarantee of fairness? At least the Board system gives our children an equal platform.”
📣 A Student in Baramulla:
“When we heard rumors, we panicked. We’ve been preparing with JKBOSE in mind. Imagine changing the system midway—it would have ruined us. I feel lighter now.”
The Psychological Angle: Why Certainty Matters
Education is not just about syllabi and marks—it’s about mental well-being. Psychologists note that uncertainty around exams worsens anxiety and undermines student confidence.
In Kashmir, where children already face high levels of stress due to conflict, clarity becomes crucial. Delayed datesheets, sudden changes in policy, or rumors of exam cancellation all deepen mental distress.
Sakina Itoo’s announcement, therefore, was not only academic—it was therapeutic.
Centre vs. State: A Clash of Visions
The confusion stemmed from a suggestion by Union Secretary Sanjay Kumar, who reportedly felt internal school-level exams could reduce rigidity. But in Kashmir, ground realities differ.
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Disruption-heavy region → needs uniformity, not fragmentation.
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Credibility deficit → board exams carry more weight for scholarships and higher studies.
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Student psychology → uncertainty fuels dropout rates.
By asserting JKBOSE’s autonomy, Itoo sent a subtle message: education reforms must be rooted in local needs, not one-size-fits-all central templates.
Data Insights: How Board Exams Changed the Game
A JKBOSE internal study (2022) highlighted:
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Pass percentage in Class 12th improved by 12% after reintroducing board-level Class 11th exams.
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Malpractice cases dropped by 40%.
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Students from rural districts performed better in competitive exams due to serious preparation starting from Class 11th.
These figures underscore why reverting to internal exams would have been a step backward.
Comparative Lens: How Other States Do It
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Delhi & Maharashtra: Internal exams for Class 11th, but with stronger school monitoring systems.
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UP & Bihar: Board-level exams only for Class 10th and 12th.
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Kashmir’s uniqueness: Frequent disruptions, weak monitoring, and socio-political stress make board-level 11th exams necessary for fairness.
The Way Forward: Stability Above All
Sakina Itoo’s statement is only the first step. Students and educators demand more:
✅ Advance datesheets – announced months earlier to reduce anxiety.
✅ Fixed academic calendar – respected regardless of disruptions.
✅ Mental health support – counseling in schools to deal with exam stress.
✅ Digital transparency – results, notifications, and guidelines published clearly on JKBOSE portals to avoid rumors.
Closing the Loop
Back in Pulwama, the same group of students who whispered in fear now sit with renewed focus. Their books are open, pens moving quickly across pages. The air of confusion has lifted.
One boy sums it up with a smile:
“Now we know what to prepare for. That’s all we wanted—clarity.”
For Kashmir’s youth, the fight is not only against exams, but against uncertainty itself. With Sakina Itoo’s reassurance, they’ve won at least half that battle.
