J&K Waqf Board introduces reforms in schools under National Education Policy 2020
15-04-2023 : The Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board has issued guidelines for schools under its jurisdiction to implement the National Education Policy 2020 and take reformative measures. The Board has instructed that there shall be no homework for students up to class 2 and no school bags for nursery and UKG students. The circular further lays down daily, monthly, and annual timetables and schedules of activities to be undertaken by the schools.
According to the circular, the daily timetable should have six periods (time slots) of 30 minutes each for teaching subjects, out of which five periods should be for compulsory subjects like English, Maths, Science, Social Science, and Urdu. The sixth period should be utilized for teaching optional subjects like Computers, Kashmiri, Arabic, Islamiyat, Sufi Saints Literature on a rotational basis. The circular also mandates that schools should have at least one hour reserved every day for extra-curricular activities, split into two parts of 30 minutes each in the first and second half of the day.
The circular also proposes that a house system should be established in every school for intra-school co-curricular and sports competitions. This is to inculcate a sense of belongingness and healthy competition among students. The circular recommends dividing the students into four houses – senior boys, senior girls, junior boys, and junior girls – based on the names of famous Sufi Saints Hazrat Sheikh Noor-ud-din Noorani (R.A), Hazrat Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani (R.A), Hazrat Sheikh Hamzah Makhdoom (R.A), and Hazrat Shah-e-Hamadan(R.A).
The sports calendar for the year should include competitions in sports activities, and competitions should also be held round the year in co-curricular activities. The circular further reserves three days in a month completely for sports and co-curricular competitions, with no academic activities carried out on those days.
The 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. The month of September and October shall witness Inter Waqf School Competitions that will reward the winners. The morning assembly after brief prayers shall consist of news headlines, thought for the day, a brief talent show of individual or a group of students, amazing facts, personality of the day, volunteer for a minute, and other exciting stuff. However, lectures by teachers during morning assembly shall be avoided.
In conclusion, the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board has issued these guidelines to its schools to take reformative measures and to follow the National Education Policy 2020 in the best way possible. The Board hopes to achieve a holistic approach to education, with equal importance given to extra-curricular and co-curricular activities, in addition to academic pursuits.
