Govt intervenes to safeguard future of IGS Sgr students

Srinagar, Feb 15: In response to the plight of 22 Class 10 students from Islamic Global School (IGS) in Srinagar, Education Minister Sakina Itoo Saturday said that the government will  ensure these students can sit for their upcoming board examinations.
This assurance comes in the wake of revelations that IGS, recognized only up to Class 8, had been illicitly conducting classes for 9th and 10th grades.
An official communiqué dated July 26, 2024, highlighted that IGS was operating unauthorized higher classes by collaborating with Scholars School Natipora, a practice deemed unethical and in violation of educational norms. The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) has taken a firm stance against IGS following an inquiry that uncovered these discrepancies. The inquiry revealed that the school was running a “dummy school” at Natipora, misleading both authorities and parents.
The situation escalated when JKBOSE rejected the examination forms of the 22 students due to the school’s lack of proper registration. With exams imminent, these students were unable to obtain their roll number slips, jeopardizing their academic futures. Parents, expressing deep concern, have reached out to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, seeking immediate intervention to prevent their children’s academic year from being wasted.
Minister Itoo emphasised that while the government is committed to facilitating the students’ examinations, however strict action will be taken against IGS for endangering their academic careers. She noted that opportunities were provided multiple times for the school to complete necessary exam formalities, but these were not adhered to.
This incident has also drawn attention from political figures. Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference President, Sajad Lone, highlighted the issue on social media, urging the government to act swiftly to prevent the students from missing their exams. He stressed that it is the government’s responsibility to ensure that unregistered schools do not operate, as parents may not be aware of a school’s registration status.
The government is now exploring viable solutions to ensure the affected students can appear for their exams without further delay, while also addressing the regulatory lapses that led to this predicament.