Srinagar, July 7: The Directorate of School Education Jammu (DSEJ) on Tuesday ordered a division-wide verification of all educational material available in government schools, recognised private institutions and coaching centres, directing authorities to complete the exercise within seven days and submit compliance reports.
The move comes in the wake of a recent controversy over alleged objectionable and separatist-related content found in textbooks supplied to government schools and libraries across the Union Territory.
According to an official circular issued by the DSEJ the Heads of Institutions (HoIs) have been directed to inspect all publications available in classrooms, libraries, laboratories, offices, staff rooms and other institutional facilities. The exercise will cover both recently supplied and previously available books to ensure that no publication contains objectionable, anti-national or inappropriate material.
“The verification exercise is aimed at ensuring that educational resources conform to constitutional values, national integrity, existing laws, communal harmony and the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP)-2020,” the circular said.
Institutions have also been asked to verify that all reading material is age-appropriate and meets the academic requirements of students.
If any objectionable content is identified, institutions must immediately prepare a detailed report specifying the title of the publication, author’s name, publisher, nature of the objectionable material and the number of copies available, the Directorate said.
All government schools, recognised private schools and coaching centres have been directed to submit compliance certificates to their respective Zonal Education Officers (ZEOs) by July 13, certifying that every publication has been examined. Institutions detecting objectionable content have been instructed to attach a comprehensive report along with the compliance certificate.
The circular further directs ZEOs to scrutinise and consolidate reports received from institutions before forwarding them to the respective Chief Education Officers (CEOs) by July 15. CEOs have been asked to submit district-wise consolidated compliance reports to the Directorate by July 17.
Joint Directors of the Directorate have been tasked with collecting reports from all districts and submitting a final consolidated report to the Director School Education Jammu after completion of the verification process.
The Directorate has warned that any negligence, delay or failure to comply with the instructions will invite strict disciplinary proceedings against the concerned officials under applicable service rules.
The verification drive follows widespread concern over books supplied to government schools and libraries that allegedly contained separatist references and other objectionable material. The controversy had prompted the School Education Department to withdraw the disputed publications and initiate departmental action.
Notably, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had ordered a high-level probe into the matter, suspended eight officials of the School Education Department, disengaged a contractual employee and directed authorities to ensure that no objectionable content is included in educational material supplied to schools in future.
Meanwhile, the Counter Intelligence Wing of the Jammu and Kashmir Police has registered a criminal case in connection with the controversy and continues its investigation, including searches at multiple locations in Jammu and Noida.
