After facing resentment from the security forces, the administration in consultation with the school education department have shifted more than 20 exam centres in several districts.The exam centres were earlier designated in various high and higher secondary schools which were occupied by security forces since August 5.Recently, the officials in JK Board of School Education (BOSE) decided to set up exam centres in these schools and recommended relocation of security forces to other alternate places.“But the administration didn’t find any alternatives besides the security forces also resented shifting from previous places due to which the concerned district administration decided to shift the exam centres from these schools,” an official told wire service—Kashmir News Observer (KNO)In Kupwara district around nine exam centres in Handwara town were shifted from government schools to private schools due to non-availability of space in government institutions.“In Handwara town the district administration decided to relocate the security forces from Degree College to Boys higher secondary school and the exam centres set up in the higher secondary schools were shifted to different private schools,” an official said.“The degree college was vacated as the Kashmir University has decided to resume exams of various undergraduate courses including 4th semester students from October 28,” the official said.
An official in BOSE said the decision about shifting of exam centres from schools occupied by security forces is taken by the concerned deputy commissioners without consulting board office.“We receive the information copy from the district administration,” he said.Similarly, in Pulwama district the administration has shifted more than half a dozen exam centres from government schools to private schools and some degree colleges as well.“The centres were shifted after assessing law and order situation in the areas and also because of occupation of security forces in some institutions,” an official said.The students appearing in the class 10th and 12th exams are informed about shifting of exam centres through newspaper advertisements.In Srinagar district, the BOSE authorities have shifted around nine exam centres from government schools to some private schools after assessing the law and order situations around the exam centres.“In Srinagar district the exam centres were changed only because of law and order situation but in other districts, the centres were shifted because of occupation of security forces in schools,” an official told KNO. The exam for class 10th and 12th will commence from October 29 and 30 respectively and the divisional administration has decided to ferry students in SRTC buses to their exam centres and back to their homes. (KNO)