The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) has barred the private schools in J&K and Ladakh from using the textbook of Urdu for class 5th and 3rd primary published by Oscar Publications Srinagar and Franklin International New Delhi.
The decision was taken after it was found that the Urdu Textbook- “Dareechae Urdu” for class 5th and “Mehboob Urdu” for class 3rd primary had some objectionable content that hurt the sentiment of the people.
“If the textbooks are being used in any school, those must be withdrawn immediately; otherwise, strict action as warranted under the provision of law shall be initiated,” reads a notification issued by director Academics JKBOSE, Dr Farooq Ahmad Peer.
The move came barely after two weeks when the government barred private schools from using the History and Civics edition 2020 published by JAY CEE publications New Delhi for Class 7th.
The Srinagar administration had also asked the police authorities to register FIR against the publisher and distributor of class 7th social studies textbook published by JAY CEE Publications (P) Ltd, New Delhi.
Notably, an expert committee was formed by the Private Schools Association of Jammu and Kashmir (PSAJK) after controversy regarding objectionable content in a particular book came to the fore. The expert committee of PSAJK tasked to check the range of schools books in Kashmir had earlier recommended banning two Urdu books for class 5th and class 3rd after finding objectionable content in the textbooks.
“Our committee is assessing all the books prescribed by the private schools. We will not tolerate any objectionable content in any textbooks which the private publishers publish,” president PSAJK, G N Var said. Meanwhile, the JKBOSE has condemned the act of publication of specific material that has hurt the sentiments of the people.
“The concerned publishers are asked to withdraw these textbooks immediately from all the schools wherever these have been distributed,” the JKBOSE notification reads.
