J&K to provide free textbooks and uniforms to government school students, says education minister

Jammu and Kashmir has announced free textbooks and uniforms for students enrolled in government schools across the Union Territory to improve access to education and bring public school students on par with their private school counterparts.

Education Minister Shameema Firdous announced the decision on Nov 9, saying the government is taking steps to ensure that students receive essential learning materials and uniforms without adding to the financial burden on their families.

The initiative is expected to make government schools more attractive to parents and encourage greater enrollment by reducing expenses associated with children's education.

Speaking to the media, Firdous welcomed the move, describing the provision of free books and uniforms as an important step toward improving the position of government school students.

She said the government wants children studying in public institutions to receive opportunities comparable to those available to students in private schools.

“Why do we give more to private schools? Our children have to work hard; they have to be brought to the same level as private school children,” she said.

Books Day initiative to support students and parents

The minister also referred to the Books Day initiative, which has been introduced to ensure that students and their parents do not encounter difficulties in obtaining textbooks.

She said many families cannot afford to purchase books, making the availability of free learning materials particularly important for children enrolled in government schools.

Firdous also raised concerns over the high prices of textbooks sold by private educational institutions. She said some institutions were charging substantial amounts for book sets, placing an additional financial burden on parents.

The minister urged private institutions to reconsider their textbook pricing practices and indicated that the government would take steps to address the issue.

“We will do something about it. The book sets they have kept for ₹10,000, ₹6,000 ₹7,000 we are going to pass an order very soon on that,” she said.

She added that she would convene a meeting with the Education Director and other concerned officials to discuss the matter and determine the necessary steps.

Emphasizing the need for proper implementation, Firdous said the process should be conducted in a disciplined manner and that the government would take appropriate action.

Shameema Firdous seeks J&K Bank recruitment age limit revision

Apart from school education, the minister also expressed concern over the age limit prescribed for Jammu and Kashmir Bank recruitment.

Responding to a question about the recruitment process, Firdous said the upper age limit of 30 years was disappointing, particularly because appointments had not taken place for the past 10 years.

She argued that the recruitment authorities should reconsider the existing eligibility criteria and increase the maximum age limit to 40 years.

“They should keep it up to 40 years, because no appointment has taken place for the last 10 years. Keeping that in view, they should reconsider this,” she said.

The minister's remarks highlighted the need to consider the prolonged gap in recruitment while determining the age eligibility of candidates seeking employment in Jammu and Kashmir Bank.