Jammu: In the backdrop of a “pro-separatist” content making it to the libraries in Jammu and Kashmir, the School Education Department and the Higher Education Department have issued comprehensive circulars prescribing a structured institutional framework for the academic evaluation, content verification and periodic review of books and other educational resources across schools, colleges, universities and public libraries in Jammu and Kashmir.
Last month J&K administration suspended eight officials and blacklisted two authors and publishers after “pro-separatist” content in a library book.
The book, “Personalities and Legends of J&K”, contained content related to separatism, which has the potential to create law and order situations. The book contained a detailed write up about separatist J&K Liberation Front (JKLF) founder Maqbool Bhat, who was hanged in 1984 for seeking independence for Kashmir.
The spokesman said it was “serious negligence, dereliction of duty and lack of proper due diligence” by members of sub-committee and supervisory officers.
The initiative has been taken in view of recent concerns regarding books available in the institutional libraries and the procurement of educational material by schools, colleges, public libraries and universities in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, and in pursuance of Government directions.
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 the periodic academic and content review of educational resources across schools, colleges and universities in the Union Territory.
The circulars are aimed at strengthening institutional mechanisms governing the evaluation, recommendation, circulation, retention and periodic review of educational material to ensure that academic resources available in educational institutions possess established academic merit, factual authenticity, pedagogical relevance and educational value, while remaining consistent with the Constitution of India, the laws in force, the National Education Policy, the applicable regulatory framework and the curricular standards prescribed by the competent authorities.
Under the framework, all Government and recognised private schools, Government and recognised private colleges, and universities functioning under the administrative jurisdiction of the respective Departments and Public Libraries 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, including 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, shall be procured, prescribed, recommended, retained, circulated, published, hosted or otherwise made available in educational institutions.
To ensure effective implementation, the Government has institutionalised multi-tier academic and content scrutiny mechanisms across the school and higher education sectors. These mechanisms 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 the applicable laws and University Grants Commission regulations.
The circulars also assign clearly defined responsibilities to the Vice Chancellors, Principals of Colleges, Chief Education Officers, Zonal Education officers and Heads of Institutions (Hols), librarians, School Managements and other academic authorities entrusted with academic governance to ensure meticulous implementation of the prescribed framework within the stipulated timelines. 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.
