Srinagar, July 10 (GNS): The School Education Department and Higher Education Department of Jammu and Kashmir have issued comprehensive circulars for a structured framework to evaluate books and academic material in all educational institutions of the Union Territory.
The move comes in pursuance of government directions in view of recent concerns regarding books available in institutional libraries and procurement of educational material.
According to the circulars, the framework aims to strengthen institutional mechanisms for evaluation, recommendation, circulation, retention and periodic review of educational resources across all schools, colleges, universities and public libraries.
It seeks to ensure that academic resources available in institutions possess established academic merit, factual authenticity, pedagogical relevance and educational value, while remaining consistent with the Constitution of India, laws in force, National Education Policy, applicable regulatory framework and curricular standards prescribed by competent authorities.
Under the framework, all government and recognised private schools, universities and public libraries functioning under the administrative jurisdiction of the respective departments have been directed to undertake a comprehensive Academic and Content Audit of books, reference material, journals, research publications, dissertations, theses, digital repositories and other educational resources available in their libraries and academic units, irrespective of the year of procurement, adoption or inclusion.
The circulars further provide that no publication or academic material containing factually inaccurate, misleading, distorted, inflammatory, unlawful or otherwise objectionable content shall be procured, prescribed, recommended, retained, circulated, published, hosted or otherwise made available in educational institutions.
This includes material that directly or indirectly promotes, glorifies, legitimises or justifies terrorism, violent extremism, secessionism, radicalisation or any activity prejudicial to the sovereignty, unity, integrity and security of the Nation.
To ensure effective implementation, the government has institutionalised multi-tier academic and content scrutiny mechanisms. These provide for systematic academic evaluation, content verification, quality assurance, periodic review and institutional oversight through committees constituted at the institutional, district, directorate, university and administrative department levels, while respecting the statutory and academic autonomy of universities within the framework of applicable laws and UGC regulations.
The circulars also assign clearly defined responsibilities to Vice Chancellors, Principals of Colleges, Chief Education Officers, Zonal Education Officers and Heads of Institutions, librarians, school managements and other academic authorities.
Institutional heads shall be responsible for ensuring compliance within their respective jurisdictions, and any omission, negligence or deviation from the prescribed procedures shall be viewed with utmost seriousness.
The initiative is intended to reinforce academic standards, strengthen institutional accountability, preserve the integrity of the educational ecosystem and establish a transparent, objective and uniform framework for periodic academic and content review of educational resources across schools, colleges and universities in the Union Territory.(GNS)
