Not taken on board while taking such decision, say Parents
Srinagar, Jan 04: The parents of the wards studying in one of the top private schools in Srinagar Saturday said that the supervisory body has unilaterally decided to change the curriculum from NCERT to CBSE—thus posing a risk of creating gaps in learning process and disturbance of academics.
The parents said that their wards have been following the NCERT curriculum since their admission in the school. “A sudden change to the CBSE will pose a risk of creating gaps in the learning process and disruption of the academics of students.”
According to the news agency, the parents said, “Switching to a new curriculum midway through their academic journey will impose undue stress on students. They will face challenges adapting to a different syllabus structure, which could hamper their performance and overall confidence.”
They further said that a large proportion of students in Green Valley Educational Institute (GVEI), Illahi Bagh, Srinagar were from lower-middle-class families. “A sudden change in curriculum requires parents to invest in new textbooks and study materials, adding an unforeseen financial burden. They may find it difficult to arrange the extra resources or capacity to cope with the additional academic demands, study materials, and possible extra coaching required for transitioning to CBSE,” the parents said.
Besides, they further said that the school’s unilateral decision disregards the critical role of parents in shaping their children’s educational journey. Such a significant change without consulting parents undermines transparency and trust, leaving us to question the motives behind this move.
“At the time of admissions, the school was affiliated with the JKBOSE, following the NCERT curriculum, and this was a decisive factor for many parents. We specifically chose this school over others offering the CBSE curriculum because of its alignment with JKBOSE,” the parents said.
They added that the school was enforcing the CBSE curriculum on their children mid-way that was violating and breaching the trust placed in the institution. “If CBSE had been a preference, parents would have admitted their children to one of the many CBSE schools available in the region.”
With regard to the revocation and implementing previous academic session, the parents further said, “A shift to CBSE, which follows summer sessions, would not only disregard the public sentiment but also create a misalignment with state policies affecting the schools credibility and compliance.”
Likewise about the infrastructure and teaching preparedness, the parents said, “CBSE requires updated infrastructure, including well-equipped labs and libraries, and teachers trained in different methodologies. The school currently lacks these facilities, and no clear plan has been shared about addressing these deficiencies, raising concerns about the quality of education post-transition.”
The parents requested the Minister of Education and the concerned authorities for their intervention to address the matter.
“We want authorities to ensure that the school retains the NCERT curriculum for current students by safeguarding their academic continuity and minimizing disruption,” they said.
They further requested that the shift to CBSE, if deemed necessary, be implemented only for new admissions starting from the new academic session; this way new students will learn the CBSE from the outset.
The parents further urged the authorities that the private school should be directed to involve parents in any major policy decisions affecting students’ education and well-being.
Despite repeated attempts, the management of GVEI could not be contacted for the comments.(KNO)
