Pulwama, November 10: The Director of School Education Kashmir Naseer Ahmad Wani on Tuesday said that Private schools can use additional textbooks of Private publishers with the consent of parents
While talking to Kashmir Convener on the sidelines of an official function in Pampore, Wani said the department has no objection if parents, on their own willingness and discretion, choose to provide additional books to their children to enhance their knowledge and learning.
He reiterated that all schools across the Kashmir Division are required to follow the textbooks prescribed by the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE), stressing that adherence to the prescribed curriculum remains the department’s primary concern.
The Director said that the department wants every school, irrespective of whether it is government-run or privately managed, to ensure that students are taught using JKBOSE-prescribed textbooks.
He clarified that while the use of prescribed textbooks is mandatory, the department would have no objection if parents, on their own willingness and discretion, choose to provide additional books to their children to enhance their knowledge and learning.
Emphasising the need to protect parents from unnecessary financial burdens, the Director said that private schools have been specifically instructed to use JKBOSE-prescribed textbooks and refrain from exploiting parents commercially in the name of books and educational materials.
Addressing concerns regarding complaints of expensive textbooks and alleged overcharging by private educational institutions, he said the department takes such matters seriously. Whenever a complaint is received, the concerned Chief Education Officer (CEO) is deputed to verify the allegations and ascertain the facts on the ground.
He added that if any complaint is found to be genuine after proper verification, appropriate action is initiated against the institution concerned in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations.
While talking about the improvement and modernisation of infrastructure in government schools, the Director said that considerable progress has been achieved over the past few years, with the department continuously working to strengthen educational facilities and create a more technology-oriented learning environment for students.
He said several government schools have already been equipped with modern educational facilities, including smart boards, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) laboratories, astrophysics laboratories and Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL), aimed at promoting innovation, scientific thinking, practical learning and technological awareness among students.
The Director further said that the introduction of these modern facilities is part of the department’s broader efforts to improve the overall quality of education in government institutions and provide students with better opportunities to compete in an increasingly technology-driven world.
He maintained that the process of infrastructure development and upgradation would continue in the coming years. Schools facing greater infrastructural requirements and having an immediate need for such facilities would be prioritised in the initial phase, while the department would gradually extend these facilities to other government schools as well.
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