More pain for Kashmir students

Srinagar: After remaining away from schools for more than two months due to a clampdown in the Valley, students in Jammu and Kashmir are upset after the administration released the annual and semester examination date-sheets as per schedule, without any relaxation in the syllabus.

The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) released the date-sheets for Classes 10 and 12 – the examinations for the former will commence from October 23 and for the latter from October 30.

As per government officials, this move is aimed at "bringing normalcy to the Valley" and "saving the academic year of students".

While the government eased out the restrictions in the coming weeks, students did not join schools after they were opened again on August 19. Sadiya Jan is one of the 48,000 students of Class 12 scheduled to appear in the annual exams.

But Jan, a resident of downtown area of Srinagar, is restless after learning about the date-sheet. "I have studied only 60% of the syllabus. I cannot appear in an exam like this," Jan tells News18.

"I have been restricted to my home since August 5. I couldn't even attend private tuitions," Jan says in a vexed tone, breaking down.

Jan has a genuine fear -- she believes it will not be possible for her to secure good marks in the exams, which means she cannot compete for further studies with students from outside the Valley.