Maj Gen SK Sharma (Retd)
The School Education Department, J&K has referred to JK PSC, 575 posts of Lecturers to be filled in by direct recruitment. Out of these only three posts are for Dogri language and same is the case with Kashmiri language. Whereas for Arabic (including Persian) languages, six posts have been asked to be filled in.
It appears that the School Education Dept is bent upon promoting and forcing Arabic and Iranian cultures on the citizens of J&K without any regard to the local cultures. Out of 575 posts to be filled in, 473 are for the main subjects whereas 102 posts are for the languages, details of which are as under: –
Hindi – 0
Punjabi -1
Arabic -2
Kashmiri -3
Dogri -3
Persian -4
Urdu -36
English -53
Total – 102
It is worthwhile noting that both the native languages Dogri and Kashmiri, are included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution and have national importance besides being the official languages of the UT of J&K. But still, only 3 posts each for Lecturers have been asked for whereas 2 posts have been asked for Arabic Language with hardly any speakers of that language in the UT.
Ap per the Census of India 2011 Report, published in 2018, population of the erstwhile State of J&K was 1,25,41,302. Extract of the report showing various mother tongues spoken by people are as under:
Kashmiri -66,80,837
Dogri – 25,13,712
Hindi – 26,12,631
Punjabi -2, 19,193
Urdu – 19,956
Pushto/Afgani -17,942
Arabic – 181
From the above report it is very clear that for Arabic language whose speakers are just 181 (mostly senior citizens) in the UT, the School Education Dept is asking for 2 posts of lecturers. And where there is no Persian language (language of Iran) speaker in UT, the Dept. is asking of for 4 posts.
It appears from the above that School Dept is bent upon promoting the foreign cultures in the UT and forcing the students to learn foreign languages than the native languages of the state which are Kashmiri and Dogri.
Dogra students Denied Free Books
“Right of Children to Free Education Act 2009”, entitles all the children to free education. Accordingly, in J&K, books of all the subjects up to class 8th are provided free to the children in around 18,000 Govt. schools. But books for the subject of Dogri language are not free provided from classes 3rd onward.
Details collected from CEO and ZEOs indicate that even though the demand for Dogri books for classes 3rd to 8th have been indicated in UDISE (Unified District Information System for Education), still JK BOSE is not providing them Dogri books.
The JK Board of School Education was approached with the information gathered from CEO and ZEOs but as per them, Samagra Siksha Abhiyan does not provide them funds for Dogri books from 3rd to 8th classes.
Project Director, Samagra Shiksha Abiyan was also approached with the above claims. As per him, he provides funds as asked by the JK BOSE who have not demanded funds for Dogri books.
It is not clear as to who is to sort out the fight/claims/counterclaims among the CEO, ZEOs, JK BOSE and the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan. Someone in the hierarchy must take the responsibility to pacify doubts of the public.
Non-Implementation of NEP-2020
The National Education Policy -2020 which was promulgated in the country in 2020 clearly lays down that education up to class 5th and preferably up to class 8th must be given in the mother tongue/local language. But if the Dept is not providing Dogri books entitled to students, how can they say that they have fully implemented the NEP-2020.
During Feb 2024, Rajiv Bhatnagar, former Advisor to Governor, J&K was also approached, in writing, to clarify the topic mentioned above. His reply came in May 2024, through Secretary School Education Dept which, in verbatim, is reproduced below:
“Three-language formula is one of the vital approaches under NEP-2020 that necessitates all Indian students to learn at least three languages. It states that they will learn two native Indian languages, including one regional language.”
Aren’t the organizations, viz. JK BOSE, Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, CEOs and ZEOs etc. to follow the above clarification on NEP-2020. If not, that means all of them are defying the provisions of NEP and befooling the Central Govt. that they have adopted NEP in toto. It is felt that the Minister of Education UT must take cognizance of this fact, instruct its Education Dept. to sort out this matter and pacify the locals of J&K.
Conclusion
The Dogra public wants clarification on the facts mentioned above which have been brought to the notice of all organizations in the education dept. through personal meetings by the undersigned, newspapers, TV interviews and innumerous press conferences. However, a satisfactory answer is yet to be received from the dept.
And let us not promote foreign culture in the UT at the cost of our own indigenous cultures.
(The author is Former Member SMVD Shrine Board)
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