news details |
|
|
| Kashmiris resent mass promotion to lower classes | | Minister, Pvt schools deal exposed | |
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Nov 19: People in Kashmir have taken a serious note of the mass promotion granted to all schoolchildren other than those appearing in the ongoing Board exams even as they accused a minister of doing so out of a "secret accord" with some private schools.
From civil society to academicians to journalists, everyone is up in arms against the government while social media is flooded with public concerns over this "deal between government and section of private schools."
The aggrieved, mainly parents said there was no fun of granting mass promotion when final exams for class 10 and 12 were being successfully conducted.
"When the Board exams for class 10 and 12 are being conducted, why to grant mass promotion to other schoolchildren, or doesn't this government wants our children be properly educated?" the aggrieved asked.
What has raised doubts in the minds of the people is that barely a week ahead of the government order on mass promotion, a "self styled" association of private schools, mainly comprising of some "influential businessmen" had arbitrarily announced mass promotion to schoolchildren, without any approval from the government. The leading missionary schools in Kashmir, on the other hand, had stayed away from this "legally unsound" decision.
Official sources in the Directorate of School Education Kashmir said the department had received complaints that a group of private schools deliberately announced mass promotion to meet their personal interests as otherwise they would lose "huge commission" in procurement of books and stationery for the new session.
Explaining his point the official said: "These particular private schools were asking for huge commission from booksellers on sale of books and stationery to schoolchildren. But the dealers were willing to give heavy discount only if sales realize before December 15 as they have to exhaust old stocks."
But sale of books and stationery for new classes was not possible unless students were formally promoted to new classes. Officials said given the ongoing conduction of Board exams, the exams for other classes could be held only in the middle of December. "The clash of exam dates was affecting the interests of these school owners who didn't want to lose commission, which runs into lakhs of rupees for each school," said the official asking not to be named.
He said a minister was informed about the suspected mischief, which would only affect the "future of schoolchildren." "Giving mass promotion to the schoolchildren makes no fun because they get promoted to new class without having learnt requisitely in the previous class. How will the student learn in the new class when his concepts of the previous book are not clear?" some officials, as per insiders, had told the minister and the Commissioner Secretary concerned.
On the other hand scores of parents had been visiting the office of DSEK pleading that they smell a rat in the arbitrary decision of private schools on granting mass promotion.
The parents wanted that the exams be held. "This minister had already facilitated one mass promotion to the schoolchildren of Kashmir in March 2015, why should he do it again this year, or does he want our children to be Neem Hakeem?" said a delegation of parents.
But to everyone's shock in public circles, the government upheld the decision of one of the associations of private schools.
Sources said some in the government struck deal with a private schools association, which is headed by a "former separatist", that mass promotion would be formally granted only if they pledge to issue statements to media only after getting "properly briefed" by one minister.
"It has been a symbiotic deal where a lobby of private schools and a minister, both got benefitted but at the cost of the career of schoolchildren," said an official, asking not to be named.
Despite repeated attempts the minister could not be contacted for comments.
Meanwhile a civil society group is contemplating to move Court against the "scam in mass promotion." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
STOCK UPDATE |
|
|
 |
| BSE
Sensex |
 |
| NSE
Nifty |
|
|
| |
CRICKET UPDATE |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
