Srinagar, Jul 10: In view of recent concerns regarding books available in institutional libraries and the procurement of educational material, the School Education Department and Higher Education Department of Jammu and Kashmir have issued comprehensive circulars, prescribing a structured institutional framework for the academic evaluation, content verification, and periodic review of books and other academic resources across all schools, colleges, and universities in the Union Territory.
The framework aims to ensure that academic resources available in educational institutions possess established academic merit, factual authenticity, pedagogical relevance, and educational value, while remaining consistent with the Constitution of India, the laws in force, the National Education Policy, the applicable regulatory framework, and the curricular standards prescribed by competent authorities.
Under the framework, all government and recognised private schools, colleges, universities, and public libraries have been directed to undertake a comprehensive Academic and Content Audit of books, reference material, journals, research publications, dissertations, theses, digital repositories, and other educational resources available in their libraries and academic units, irrespective of the year of procurement, adoption, or inclusion.
The circulars provide that no publication or academic material containing factually inaccurate, misleading, distorted, inflammatory, unlawful, or otherwise objectionable content, including material that directly or indirectly promotes, glorifies, legitimises, or justifies terrorism, violent extremism, secessionism, radicalisation, or any activity prejudicial to the sovereignty, unity, integrity, and security of the Nation, shall be procured, prescribed, recommended, retained, circulated, published, hosted, or otherwise made available in educational institutions.
To ensure effective implementation, the government has institutionalised multi-tier academic and content scrutiny mechanisms across the school and higher education sectors, providing for systematic academic evaluation, content verification, quality assurance, periodic review, and institutional oversight through committees constituted at institutional, district, directorate, university, and administrative department levels, while respecting the statutory and academic autonomy of universities within the framework of applicable laws and UGC regulations.
The circulars assign clearly defined responsibilities to Vice Chancellors, Principals of Colleges, Chief Education Officers, Zonal Education Officers, Heads of Institutions, librarians, School Managements, and other academic authorities to ensure meticulous implementation of the prescribed framework within stipulated timelines. Institutional heads shall be responsible for ensuring compliance within their respective jurisdictions, and any omission, negligence, or deviation from prescribed procedures shall be viewed with utmost seriousness.
The initiative is intended to reinforce academic standards, strengthen institutional accountability, preserve the integrity of the educational ecosystem, and establish a transparent, objective, and uniform framework for the periodic academic and content review of educational resources across schools, colleges, and universities in the Union Territory.
