PSAJK Calls for Syllabus Relaxation for Jammu Division Students in JKBOSE Exams: A Step Towards Fairness and Academic Equity

PSAJK Calls for Syllabus Relaxation for Jammu Division Students in JKBOSE Exams: A Step Towards Fairness and Academic Equity

The Private Schools Association Jammu & Kashmir (PSAJK) has once again stepped forward with a heartfelt appeal that prioritises the educational welfare of students in the Jammu Division amid the ongoing JKBOSE board examinations. On January 20, PSAJK urged the authorities of the Jammu & Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) to grant syllabus relaxation for students in Jammu Division — especially from regions such as Chenab Valley and Poonch — who have faced significant disruptions to their academic calendar.

At the heart of PSAJK’s appeal is a simple but profound belief: every student deserves a fair chance to succeed, regardless of where they live. The association’s president, Nazrul Islam Baba, emphasised that the learning time for many students in Jammu Division was severely compromised due to circumstances beyond their control — such as delays in academic activities and limited classroom hours. He stressed that denying these students the same academic relief already extended to their peers in other regions would be both discriminatory and unethical.

This appeal emerges in the context of syllabus relaxation already implemented by JKBOSE earlier for certain regions. Last year, the board had provided a 15% syllabus relaxation for Classes 10, 11, and 12 in the Kashmir Division and the winter zone areas — recognising disruptions caused by weather events like heat waves, cloudbursts, and floods, and delayed academic sessions. Under that arrangement, students were expected to attempt 85% of the syllabus which would be treated as equivalent to 100% for assessment purposes, offering relief while maintaining academic standards.

PSAJK’s appeal is rooted in fairness: if learning loss was the criterion to grant syllabus relief elsewhere, the same principle should apply consistently across regions. The association has also emphasised that inequitable treatment risks deepening existing regional disparities and undermining trust in the evaluation system.

Importantly, PSAJK has called upon JKBOSE Chairman and the Education Minister to intervene urgently and consider this request seriously, underscoring the association’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey.

In a broader sense, this development highlights the evolving and compassionate approach of educational stakeholders in Jammu & Kashmir as they seek to balance academic rigour with empathy and fairness. At a time when students are navigating high-stakes board exams, such appeals bring hope to learners and parents alike — reminding us that education systems must adapt with sensitivity to the real challenges faced by students on the ground.