J-K SCERT ‘proposes’ to shift classes 1st-9th exams in March

SRINAGAR — Following the shifting of all Board exams to the March session, the Jammu and Kashmir State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) is also likely to do away with the October-November session.

In this regard, SCERT has forwarded a proposal to the Principal Secretary, School Education Department.

According to the news agency KNO, a joint meeting of all the Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs) of SCERT was held in virtual mode to seek inputs on the adoption of the Uniform Academic Calendar up to Class 9th in Winter Zone areas of J&K UT and formulation of budget estimates 2022-23 viz 2023-24.

“In the meeting, a threadbare discussion was held with all stakeholders for smooth implementation of Uniform Academic Calendar up to Class 9th in J&K UT sync with the Uniform Academic Calendar notified by Government of Jammu & Kashmir (UT) for Class 10th, 11th and 12th,” reads the minutes of the meeting.

It states that all participants in the meeting had agreed to the adoption of the Uniform Academic Calendar up to Class 9th in J&K UT.

“All the participants in the meeting have agreed to implement Uniform Academic Calendar in rural and urban and winter zone areas in sync with the academic calendar of other classes 9th to 12th as notified by the government,” it reads.

It further states, “There shall be school-based ‘Student Assessment and Evaluation Scheme’ for all classes and Year End Assessment for classes 5th and 8th shall be conducted in the month of March every year in all schools across the JKUT to identify Potential Learners (Low Performer students) on the basis of performance and competency in assessment, who will be given remedial teaching to bring them at par with other students.”

According to the minutes of the SCERT, “The uniform question papers for classes 5th and 8th shall be prescribed by SCERT J&K to familiarize and prepare the students about future Board Examinations.”

“In case some snow-bound areas of districts like Bandipora (Gurez), Kishtwar (Dachan, Madwa) Kathua, Kupwara etc, there shall be separate series of question papers prescribed by SCERT JKUT, which will enable the respective Principals of DIETs, in consultation with ZEO and cluster heads to conduct ‘Year End Assessment’ as per their feasibility within two weeks,” it reads.

SCERT said that it was unanimously agreed by all participants that there is sufficient human resource and infrastructure available for conducting ‘Year End Assessment’ for classes 5th and 8th at the cluster level and for other classes at the school level.

“All the Principal DIETs have submitted that adoption of Uniform Academic Calendar up to Class 9th in JKUT sync with the analogy of Class 10th to 12th as notified by the Government of JKUT and should be implemented,” it reads.

It further said that in case of formulation of first budget estimates for the year 2023-24, 2022-23 (Revised), all DDO, Principal DIETs were sanitized about the budget formats prescribed by Finance Department; for which WhatsApp groups for budget and examinations were created by SCERT for immediate sharing of information.

SCERT said that during the meeting, it was also decided that accounts staff and budget of SCERT and associated DIETs must prepare budget estimates in consonance with the sanctioned strength of SCERT and DIETs as per the latest government orders issued for the establishment of SCERT in JKUT.

“All the participants viz Joint Directors and Principal DIETs and other associated staff were advised to submit their inputs on an adoption of Uniform Academic Calendar upto Class 9th in JKUT and budget estimates 2022-23 revised and 2023-24 on prescribed formats by 18.9.2022,” it reads.