State

PSAJK files petition in Supreme Court seeking restoration of 4G internet

‘Besides impacting education, restrictions have taken toll on mental health of students too’

Srinagar, Jan 22: Private Schools Association of Jammu and Kashmir (PSAJK), which represents the interests of over 3800 schools in the region, has filed a writ petition before the Supreme Court seeking restoration of 4G mobile internet services.

The Association in a statement to ANH, said that the restriction on the high-speed internet has severely impacted the quality of education for lakh of students in the entire Jammu and Kashmir.

“Our students have been suffering since 05 August 2019 due to prolonged school closures which were first imposed in the aftermath of abrogation of Article 370 and then extended on account of the COVID-19 pandemic. The children of Jammu & Kashmir have already lost two academic years because it is impossible to conduct online classes using video-conferencing tools like Zoom or WebEx at 2G mobile internet speed,” the association pleaded in the petition.

Furthermore, the severe impact of school closures and the inability to shift to remote learning has been recognised by the Jammu & Kashmir State Board of School Education which had to reduce the syllabus by 40% for annual examinations scheduled in 2020 for students in Class 10, 11 and 12.

However, no such concessions are available for students from Jammu & Kashmir who are appearing for national level competitive exams where the syllabus remains unchanged and where they must compete with students from other parts of India who have the ability to continue their education through high-speed internet access.

“Due to the internet restrictions, many students have been forced to leave their families and live outside Jammu & Kashmir to prepare for competitive exams. Those without such privilege are left to compete with students from the rest of a country, on an unequal field,” the Association said.

The denial of access to education has taken a toll on the mental health of children in Jammu & Kashmir and they are suffering from high levels of stress, anxiety and depression. “For these reasons, we have once again approached the Supreme Court seeking enforcement of the fundamental right to education guaranteed by the Constitution and we hope the Court will restore 4G mobile internet access to protect the future of our students,” the Association said.

State

As schools partially re-open, students demand March session examination

Huzaiful Reyaz

(Asian News Hub) – As the educational institutions, including schools have partially re-opened for vaccinated students of higher classes, the students are urging authorities to conduct exams in March so that they can comfortably complete their syllabus.

Taking to Asian News Hub, students said that they are not prepared for exams which are likely to be held in last week of October, giving the reason that their studies had got affected by lockdown and that they haven’t completed the syllabus.

Also Read: KRA seeks Govt attention, appeals for ensuring strict implementation of e-commerce policy

A group of class 12 students told Asian News Hub that their syllabus is incomplete and it will take them at least 3-4 months to complete remaining part of their syllabus and to prepare for their board examination.

“While exams are knocking the door, we haven’t even completed half of the syllabus yet. Online classes didn’t clear the concept, they were of no use. Now as schools have reopened, goverment should allow us to attend physical classes for these months, and should held exams in March, so that our study goes unaffected,” said Falak, a student from Srinagar.

Also Read: Rats nimble infant’s finger at MCCH Anantnag

Another student saying same said that it will take them atleast three months to complete the syllabus and goverment notification where they said they are holding exams in October has put them in depression.

“We haven’t been to school this year. The online classes are of no use compared to physical classes. Most part of our syllabus is incomplete, we aren’t prepared, we need time for preparation,” another student said.

Also Read: Kulgam girl’s innovate lid opener for chemical bottles bags national award

While we tried to contact the officials in Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education, however we failed.

State

Kulgam girl’s innovate lid opener for chemical bottles bags national award

(Asian News Hub) – A 19-year-old girl from South Kashmir’s Kulgam district has earned a rare honour by winning national ‘Inspire-Manak’ award for inventing the lid opener for chemical bottles.

Mehvish Riyaz (19) a resident of Akhran village of Kulgam in South Kashmir, has received an award for innovation at the National Science Exhibition held recently.

A student of the local government school, Mehvish’s success has brought cheers to her school teachers while making her parents proud.

Also Read: Rats nimble infant’s finger at MCCH Anantnag

Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Dr Jitendra Singh conferred award to Mehvish in the award function of 8th NLEPC-2021 for INSPIRE-MANAK.

Mehvish and her father Riyaz Ahmad while speaking with news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) gave all credit to the school teachers for her success.

Also Read: Four militants active in Srinagar: IGP Kashmir

“My daughter and two other children were studying in a private school. I shifted them to the government school because of its reputation,” Riyaz said.

“When you get ideas you do not know whether it is a hobby or an interest. I call it an interest because I like what I do. Since childhood, I was much aligned to all this stuff,” said Mehvish, adding that it was all possible because of her teachers and parents.

Also Read: Minor killed in mattan road accident

Mahvish’s model on bottle opener for chemicals won her the ‘Inspire-Manak’ National award.

Mahvish’s invented lid opener for chemical bottles is useful and can solve problems of dealing with chemicals in a laboratory or in industry.

Also Read: Couple injured in Bear attack in north Kashmir

Her model was presented to and judged by various scientific innovation organizations at the exhibition.

State

Couple injured in Bear attack in north Kashmir

(Asian News Hub) – A middle-age couple was injured in a bear attack at Nagsari Kalarose in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Wednesday, officials said.

Officials told GNS Abdul Aziz khatana (50) and his wife Saiba Begum (45) of Paniwale baak Nagsari kalarose were critically injured in a bear attack and shifted by locals to PHC kalaroose for treatment.

Also Read: Rats nimble infant’s finger at MCCH Anantnag

The wild beast attacked the couple in the dwelling in upper reaches, they added.