JKBOSE to monitor and enforce school standards across Jammu and Kashmir

The Jammu and Kashmir government has appointed the Board of School Education as the State School Standards Authority for the Union territory, aligning with the provisions of the National Education Policy 2020.

The announcement was made on Dec 1 through an order issued by Thanaji Bhat, Under Secretary in the School Education Department.

The government said that the designation aims to promote transparent, independent, and effective regulation of schools across Jammu and Kashmir.

“In exercise of the powers vested in the School Education Department, the J-K Board of School Education (JKBOSE) is hereby designated as the State School Standards Authority (SSSA) for the Union territory, in accordance with the provisions and mandates of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020,” the order said.

Under NEP 2020, the SSSA will manage the separation of regulatory, academic, examination, and administrative functions.

The authority will also be responsible for setting standards, monitoring schools, and ensuring compliance with rules regarding infrastructure, safety, teacher qualifications, governance, and financial accountability.

The order refers to recommendations from PARAKH, the national assessment center under NCERT, which suggests that state examination boards be designated as SSSAs to maintain consistent standards across different boards.

Several other boards, including CBSE nationally and the Himachal Pradesh and Mizoram state boards, have already been notified as SSSAs by their respective governments.

Established under the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education Act, 1975, JKBOSE is the statutory body responsible for curriculum development, examinations, and school affiliations in the Union territory.

The board possesses the necessary infrastructure, systems, and expertise to carry out the regulatory functions of the SSSA effectively.