Srinagar, Dec 6 : While condemning the objectionable contents of a book published by a New Delhi based publisher, Private Schools Association of Jammu and Kashmir (PSAJK) Monday constituted a high level committee to check all books and asked private schools to refrain from introducing any new book before getting it approved from the expert committee.
The Association held a meeting with all prominent publishers wherein participants were enjoined to check the content of book(s) before releasing it to the schools.
The proprietor of ‘Paradise Book House’, which is also one of the book dealers of the Jay Cee Publishers while condemning the publication of the content said that they had not brought or supplied the book. It said that the company had sent some samples to few schools by itself.
Even as the publication house tendered an unconditional apology, the Association said that the situation demands much more action than mere apologies.
The Association hailed the government for taking prompt action in this incident. They welcomed the lodging of case as directed by ADC Srinagar Dr Syed Hanif Balkhi and action taken by Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (BOSE) and Director Education.
“When it comes to books and written material, there should be no room for complacency. Every stakeholder should check every word before introducing and teaching the same to students,” said Var President PSAJK as per a statement to GNS.
Meanwhile the Association constituted a seven member autonomous Academic Committee headed by Khurshid Bismil. The committee will have three members from Kashmir, two from Jammu and one each from Pir Panjal and Chenab valley to check the content and standard of books.
The Association said that no school will be allowed to prescribe any new book without approval of the committee.
“The committee has been assigned to check all books and ensure that there is no objectionable matter in any book. Furthermore all schools and publishers have also been asked to check their books. We want to implement a multi-tier checking set-up for every book so that such unfortunate incident does not happen again in future,” Var said.
The Association announced that no new book will be introduced in any of its member private schools, before the same is approved by the Expert Committee.
The Association meanwhile appealed the BOSE to immediately convene a meeting of its Academic Committee. The meeting, it said, should be held both at Srinagar and Jammu at the earliest wherein a threadbare discussion should be held on the issue of books.
The Private Schools being an important stakeholder should also be invited to the meeting, the Association said.
The Association said that as the date for implementation of New Education Policy is coming nearer, we need to prepare for the new syllabus and Academic Committee of BOSE has to play a vital role in it.
The Association called on the BOSE to start meetings of Academic Council, with all stake holders on board, immediately.
