The Private Schools Association of Kashmir (PSAK) has called on the Education Minister Syed Altaf Bukhari to revoke the partisan government order that requires local private schools to teach Board of School Education (BOSE) books whereas giving free choice to CBSE approved schools.The Association said that the order which has been approved previously needs to be looked into immediately as it has a potential to destroy entire local quality education sector. “A circular has been issued ordering all local Kashmiri private schools to teach the low quality BOSE books,” said Var, chairman PSAK. “Ironically those so called high end CBSE schools have been left out of the order. This is to benefit just these schools and the students studying at these places.”The Association said that the new order will benefit few schools and couple of thousand students from rich families only. “Even government agrees that the BOSE books are of low quality and cannot compete with the modern world.
So forcing such books, which have already destroyed government schools, on the private schools will be a certain road to doom,” said Var. “Most of our schools are economy class but they never compromise on quality education. It is due to their dedication and method of teaching that our education sector has produced so many gems.”The Association said that the new order will affect around six lakh students and it will be a biggest anti-Kashmir order in recent years. “On one hand government is claiming to be promoting Kashmiri industry but on the other hand in education sector it is acting opposite to it,” said Var. “We appeal the Education Minister to revoke the order to save the future of lakhs of Kashmiri students.” The Association questioned that if government thinks that the private schools charge exorbitant money from parents, “doesn’t it apply for CBSE schools?” “We have no issue with the circular, provided BOSE gives us quality books.
Let them form a high level committee of experts and produce a syllabus in comparable with Cambridge or a similar standard, and we will then happily introduce those books,” said Var. “But present books of BOSE are equal to disaster.”The Association also said that conducting of examination for Class 5 to Class 8 by SIE is another conspiracy to strangulate the private schools. “What is the fun of conducting lower class examination by SIE. It happens no where in India,” said Var. “The only thing it will result is rise of corruption. The examination will become money minting machine for government officials.” The Association asked the government to kindly investigate why such orders are always enacted for Kashmiri schools. “It is our misfortune that certain quarters inside the government have some animosity with private schools of Kashmir. They can’t digest the fact that students emerging from these schools are cracking competitive examinations and bagging numerous fellowships and awards all over the world. They are afraid of our progress and want to curtail it,” said Var. “We appeal the Education Minister to purge the department from such elements and it will be a huge service to the society”