Century old school in Baramulla faces closure
STATE TIMES NEWS
Srinagar: In a distressing turn of events, the recent denial of Registration Return Forms (RRFs) by the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (BOSE) to private schools has led to shock and despair among parents and students alike. At the centre of this storm is the Saint Joseph’s School in Baramulla, with a century-old legacy in North Kashmir.
The school is on the verge of closure as authorities have refused to register the students from this school for board examinations in absence of land lease documents.
The school has asked the parents of students in Classes 9, 10, 11, and 12 to “to come out of the situation” and decide on the future of their children in view of the refusal by the Board of School Education to register their wards for examinations.
The school, which was established in 1905, is operating on state land in Baramulla district. “St. Joseph’s School in Baramulla was established in 1905 on land leased from the government. In 2018, before the lease expired, the school management sought renewal from the Government of Jammu and Kashmir. Despite submitting all necessary documents and recommendations, the renewal file has been pending with the Divisional Commissioner since April 2022. Although the school received a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Revenue Department, efforts to renew affiliation and register students have been futile, causing distress among students and parents due to the inconvenience caused by SO 177,” a notice from the school stated.
“Despite appeals to various authorities, including the Principal Secretary of Revenue, Principal Secretary of School Education, and Chairman of BOSE, no action has been taken. Even after the intervention of the Lieutenant Governor’s office in December 2023, no progress has been made. In light of this situation, the school management has decided to inform parents of affected students about the circumstances, aiming to find a solution to ensure a peaceful and promising future for the students,” it added. The school management claimed that it had approached the office of the Lieutenant Governor for intervention but no relief was granted.
Meanwhile, the Private Schools Association of Jammu and Kashmir (PSAJK) has expressed its concern and disappointment over the development and raised serious concerns over what they deem as a grave injustice.
“This decision is not just bureaucratic, it is deeply emotional. It disrupts the lives of countless families and shatters the dreams of our children,” President Private Schools Association said.
“The future of our children is in jeopardy due to the continuation of these insensitive decisions,” he said, adding that the students are unable to register for upcoming exams from their respective schools due to closure of RRF, putting their academic progression risk.
He said that the impact of this decision is much greater than that of individual students. “This is a threat to the existence of numerous private schools, threatening the livelihoods of teachers and school staff,” he added.
While the efforts of the J&K High Court in directing authorities to comply with its orders are appreciated, the President said that the continued non-implementation raises serious concerns about the administration’s commitment to the rule of law and citizen welfare.
He urged intervention from the Lieutenant Governor’s office to reverse this decision and ensure the smooth functioning of private education in Kashmir.