JAMMU, MARCH 19: The Jammu & Kashmir Board of School Education develops textbooks strictly in alignment with the curricular goals envisaged in National Curriculum Frameworks. The process is carried out by a dedicated panel of experts drawn from higher education, school education and other distinguished fields.
The process of reviewing, editing and finalization of textbooks is conducted solely by experts engaged and entrusted based on their academic credentials and subject expertise. This ensures that textbooks are developed with academic rigor, free from any undue intervention. JKBOSE reviews and develops syllabi, courses of studies and textbooks for class 1st to 12th as per the guidelines and recommendations of National Curriculum Frameworks which are seminal documents on the National Education Policy to have uniformity in the education system throughout the country. This has facilitated our students to compete at national and international level.
Section-10 of the JKBOSE Act of 1975 mandates the JKBOSE to develop courses of instruction, prepare curricula, and prescribe textbooks from pre-primary to higher secondary levels and Elementary Teachers Training Course.
Further, as per SRO 123 Clause 11(a), every affiliated school must follow the curriculum and textbooks prescribed by JKBOSE. Any deviation from this directive is a violation of regulatory norms, and no external publisher can dictate or alter the prescribed textbooks. On the top of that the High Court has also reaffirmed that all affiliated schools must adhere to SRO 123, reinforcing that JKBOSE is well within its rights to make it mandatory for all the Private Schools to prescribe Textbooks published by JKBOSE.
The State Affiliation Committee/ Recognition Committee in its meetings held on 7th August, 2013 and 18th May, 2023, has resolved that any deviation or non-compliance of the Instructions or orders of the JKBOSE or Government of Jammu and Kashmir issued from time to time regarding prescribed text books and curricula by any academic institution shall warrant a disciplinary action, imposition of a penalty up to Rs.50,000 or both and that it shall be reinforced for strict implementation. Accordingly, the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education issued a notification bearing No: F (Acad-C)/E-File-7318285/TXT/BK/-XIV/23. Dated 22-12-2023 for implementation of JKBOSE curriculum and textbooks published / prescribed by JKBOSE from academic session 2024-25 for classes 1st to 12th with the strict directions that no school shall force any parent /student to purchase books and material other than those published by JKBOSE.
The BOSE shall take all measures to implement its statutory mandate of ensuring uniform curricula in all schools as has been endorsed by the High Court also in line with the provisions of National Education Policy. Of late it has been decided that special teams will be constituted in collaboration with School Education department to carry out inspections across the Union Territory to ensure compliance of uniform curricula in all the schools, and if any educational institution affiliated with BOSE is found violating the instructions, it might face action as per the relevant provisions of Board of School Education norms.
While free textbooks stand already distributed in all the government schools in winter zone, the BOSE has taken measures in earnest to make sure that the supply of textbooks meant for private schools is also readily available with registered book sellers in the market.
Apt to mention that the textbooks prescribed by BOSE are well developed and cost effective. The printing is up to the mark and well researched. These textbooks are based on the NCERT format and content and are locally contextualised with local specific touch and infusion thus creating a sense of belongingness which is missing in the books offered by private publishers. BOSE textbooks have been received well and appreciated by its stakeholders for their student friendly features. All the affiliated schools of JKBOSE, including private schools are advised to implement the textbooks prescribed/published by JKBOSE.
