Srinagar, Apr 15: In order to implement reforms under the National Education Policy 2020, the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Waqf Board issuedfresh instructions to its schools on Saturday, advising that no baggage be permitted from nursery to UKG and no homework be assigned up to class 2nd.
The directive was issued by Chairperson J&K Waqf Board Dr. DarakshanAndrabi, and a circular was issued in this respect by Executive Magistrate Tehsildar, J&K Waqf Board IshtiyaqMohi-ud-Din.
Chairperson J&K Waqf Board Dr. DarakshanAndrabi told Rising Kashmir that they have issued fresh guidelines aiming to implement NEP2020 in the Waqf schools.
“There shall be no school bag for classes from Nursery to UKG and no homework for Classes up to 2nd Standard,” she said adding that School Bag Policy and NEP-2020 guidelines shall be followed strictly.
Andrabi said the orientation Programme for School Heads regarding the execution of proposed changes shall be held separately.
The decision comes only a week after the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) School Education Department (SED) published instructions to all government and private schools on how to reduce the weight of school bags carried by students.
As per the instructions, the daily timetable must include six Periods (time slots) of 30 minutes each for teaching courses, according to the rules. There are five sessions for mandatory topics such as English, Math, Science, Social Science, and Urdu.
The circular further said every day that there will be one hour compulsory reserved for extra-curricular activities that shall be split into two parts of 30 minutes each in the first and second half of the day.
“These two periods shall be utilized for a range of extracurricular activities, like cleanliness drives, role-plays, moral lessons, display of animation videos on LEDs, storytelling, performing arts, and other activities,” it said.
The Waqf Circular reads that the House System is to be established in every school for round the year Intra-School Co-Curricular and Sports Competitions.
“To inculcate a sense of belongingness & healthy competition among students, all the School Heads are instructed to divide the students into four Houses: Senior Boys, Senior Girls, Junior Boys, and Junior Girls, on the names of famous Sufi Saints,” it said.
The circular also states that each house will have a student as house captain and a teacher as house master. Points earned in competitions throughout the year will be counted and displayed on a board so that students can track the progress of their respective Houses. The school’s top performers will be recognised at the conclusion of the year.
“The Sports Calendar for the Year shall include Competitions in Sports Activities and similarly Competitions in Co-Curricular Activities throughout the Year. Three days in a month shall be reserved completely for Sports and Co-Curricular Competitions.” There will be no academic activity on those days,” it stated.
Circular advised School authorities shall allocate at least one period of thirty minutes per month for the House Meetings so that the House Committee Members can interact, motivate and plan the house activities under the guidance of respective House Masters.
“In the months of September, and October, Inter Waqf School Competitions shall be carried out and the winners shall be rewarded. Morning assembly, after brief prayers, shall consist of news headlines thought for the day. Lectures by teachers during morning assembly shall be avoided, ” it said.
Earlier on March 19, Waqf directed all its Schools to submit a proposal or expenditure of unutilized funds within three days positively.
