Jammu and Kashmir State Board exams marked by over 94 percent attendance

The Jammu and Kashmir State Board examinations for Classes 10 and 12 commenced on Monday, and has been marked by attendance touching the 94.53 percent.

Due to the turmoil that the Kashmir Valley has witnessed in the past few months the state government had decided to hold the class 10 and 12 examinations twice - once in November with 50 percent syllabus and then again in March 2017 with the remainder 50 percent syllabus.

This unprecedented response has taken the wind out of the sails of the separatist and divisive narrative that has been projecting alienation of the young school going boys and girls as the reason behind the unrest and strife that enveloped the valley for more than three months.

Experts feel that the attendance for the examination indicates that students of Kashmir are more interested in pursuing their education than pelting stones and imposing lock-outs in ideological affiliation with separatism.

It has become apparent that an overwhelming majority of the young school going segment was perturbed with the closure of their schools and have hastened to cover up for the lost time as soon as the situation has eased.

The examination is being held under a massive security umbrella due to a threat perception of disruptive elements resorting to violence to foil the examination process. Those taking the examinations and their parents are well aware of the security risk involved, yet, they have gone ahead for the sake of their future.

The attendance in the examinations has once again brought to the fore the wisdom and resilience of the Kashmir people. They are determined to ensure that the future of their children is not jeopardised

"The hollowness of the claims and postures of the Hurriyat Conference stands exposed yet again. The situation highlights their irrelevance in the Kashmiri thought process that is focused only on peace, progress and prosperity," said Dr. Simrit Kahlon, an academician and commentator on Jammu and Kashmir, while referring to the situation.