Srinagar: Education Minister Sakina Itoo on Friday clarified that the government has not taken over the management committees of FAT schools in Kashmir.
Sources said that after the formation of the National Conference (NC) government, parents and students approached authorities, expressing concern that the managing committees of these schools had “expired,” putting students’ careers at risk.
The statement follows an order from the Secretary of the School Education Department (SED) stating that the managing committees of 215 FAT schools would be overseen by the respective Deputy Commissioners, “who shall propose fresh managing committees in due course after due verification.”
Itoo explained that after the NC government came to power, parents and teachers raised concerns that students’ registration for 9th to 12th exams was at stake, as the verification of the managing committees of around 221 schools had been pending with the CID.
“The verification of these committees was negative and left unresolved, preventing students from receiving their Board exam forms,” Itoo said.
She added that around 51,363 students were enrolled in these schools, whose careers were jeopardized due to the expired validity of the managing committees.
“To protect the students’ interests, we decided that principals of the nearest higher secondary schools would temporarily oversee these FAT schools,” Itoo said. She clarified that teachers, students, and school buildings remain unchanged; only administrative oversight is being handled by nearby principals.
“The file approved by me clearly states that principals will act as in-charge. The recent order incorrectly mentions Deputy Commissioners taking over the committees, which was not approved by me,” she added.
Itoo emphasized that this temporary arrangement is for three months, after which new managing committees will be formed and sent to the CID for verification.
“The government has not taken over these schools. Principals will manage them only until new committees are established. The previous committees’ tenure had expired, and CID verification was negative. The public should not be misled by misinformation,” she concluded.
