Education System in Jammu and Kashmir
The political situation in Jammu and Kashmir is not very conducive to development of education or any other form of industry asides tourism. But nevertheless, the Central and the State government authorities have tried their best to promote academics here. Free education is provided to students who come from poor families and cannot pay the fee for even primary education. The education system in Jammu and Kashmir is divided into the respective tiers:
- Pre-Primary School
- Primary School
- Middle School
- High Secondary School
- College
- University
The Jammu and Kashmir education scenario has improved with time and the current student strength in this North Indian state stands at 1.5 million according to the 2009 census reports.
Primary Education in Jammu and Kashmir
The Jammu and Kashmir education board was established in the year 1970. There are more than 15000 schools within the state's boundaries today. Hindi is the medium of instruction for school education in Jammu and Kashmir. Schools have also been set up in the remote villages of the state, thereby giving a boost to rural education in Jammu and Kashmir. 2000 schools of Jammu and Kashmir are built in the rural areas and the state government authorities are trying to increase the number in order to eradicate illiteracy.
Like in other parts of the country, Jammu and Kashmir also follows the 10+2 pattern of schooling. The schools in the North Indian state are affiliated to the Jammu and Kashmir State Board of School education (JKBOSE). In addition there is the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) adopted by the Kendriya Vidyalayas and the Indian Army schools in the state. In Jammu and Kashmir, you have to give board examinations in class VIII, class X and class XII in order to pass the school level of education. Some well known schools in Jammu and Kashmir are:
Schools in Jammu and Kashmir
| School | Location | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|
| Army School | Maralia, Miran Sahib, Jammu and Kashmir - 181101 | CBSE |
| Delhi Public School | Maharaja Hari Singh Marg, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir - 180001 | CBSE |
| Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya | Tolah Kupwara, Post Office Dooniwara, Jammu and Kashmir - 193223 | JKBOSE |
| K C Public School | Akhnoor Road, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir - 181205 | JKBOSE |
| Air Force School | Air Force Station, P O Satwari, Jammu Cantonment, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir - 180003 | CBSE |
Sports and extra curricular activities are always encouraged in all Jammu and Kashmir schools. There are public schools in Jammu and Kashmir which exclusively provide education to the underprivileged and the Tibetan refugees. On the other hand there are private schools that cater to children of the elite.
Graduation and PG Level Courses in Jammu and Kashmir
There are many institutes of repute in Jammu and Kashmir that provide graduation and PG level courses to students. The Jammu and Kashmir colleges and universities have historical importance too and have been recognized as excellent centers of learning from time immemorial.
Amar Singh Government College * Location - Srinagar
* Undergraduate Courses - BA, B.Sc
Government College for Women
* Location - Gandhi Nagar
* Undergraduate Degrees - BA, B.Sc in Home Science and Vocational Courses
Government College for Boys * Location - Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir
* Undergraduate Degrees - BA, B.Com, B.Sc
Government College of Music and Fine Arts
* Location - Srinagar
* Undergraduate Degrees - BFA (bachelor of fine arts), B.Mus (bachelor of music)
Government College Bemina
* Location - Srinagar
* Undergraduate Degrees - BA, B.Sc
* Admission Procedure - Your board results in the XIIth standard is required to seek admission to the above mentioned colleges. Admission forms are available online and from college premises.
University of Kashmir
All colleges in Jammu and Kashmir that provide degrees in general courses in the fields of arts, science and commerce are affiliated to the University of Kashmir.
* Courses Offered - This University provides postgraduate degrees in various disciplines of science, arts and commerce. M.Ed and MCA are other degrees that several students visiting this university opt to take. After a masters degree, you can opt for higher education like M.Phil and Ph.D in the subject which you have graduated in.
* Admission Process - The graduation marks are very important to seek admission to the University level of education. There are seats reserved for students who have attended colleges under the University of Kashmir. Reservation as per government norms are followed in this university, thus there are seats reserved for scheduled tribes, scheduled castes and OBCs.
Professional Options Available in Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir is not only the chosen destination for studying general courses but also for pursuing professional courses. Today, professional curriculum has become very important because more and more people, both men and women, want to enter into a professional life as soon as possible in their lives. Therefore a professional degree is very important.
Colleges in Jammu and Kashmir
| Type of Colleges | College Name | Degree |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering | Model Institute of Engineering & Technology, Government College of Engineering & Technol, Institute of Engineering Technology and Resea, Masterpro College of Engineering | B.Tech / B E in Computer Science & Engineering, Electronics and Communication, Civil Engineering, Information Technology |
| Law | Ashoka Law College, Dogra Law College, Calliope School of Legal Studies, Jammu Law College, Sopore Law College | LL.B, LL.M |
| Architecture | School of Architecture and Landscaping College of Engineering | B.Arch |
| Management | Graphic Era Institute of Technology, H N B Garhwal University, Priyadarshini Institute of Management & Science, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University | MBA, MCA |
| Medical | Acharya Shri Chander College of Medical & Hospital, Government Medical College, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences | MBBS, MD, MS |
| Fashion Designing | Kalamkari Vocation Oriented Women's Polytechnic | Fashion Technology |
| Veterinary Sciece | Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu | B.V.Sc, A.H. |
Education for Foreign Students in Jammu and Kashmir
The educational facilities and administrative infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir is not very developed. Though studying in Jammu and Kashmir is gradually becoming the chosen option for resident students, not many international candidates travel to this Indian state for education. Both the Central and State government authorities are trying their best to improve the scenario of education in Jammu and Kashmir. With the establishment of several schools, colleges and universities in the state, people are hopeful that foreign / NRI students will soon travel to Jammu and Kashmir not only for tourism but also for educational purposes. However, there are reserved seats for foreign nationals in the CET (Common Entrance Test) examinations and the qualifying students can opt to study in engineering colleges of Jammu and Kashmir.
Hostel Accommodations in Jammu and Kashmir
Only a handful of students can enjoy hostel facility in Jammu and Kashmir. The number of hostel seats in the institutes of Jammu and Kashmir is limited and can be enjoyed by only the most deserving students and those who live very far away from the college or university campus. The security in Jammu and Kashmir hostels is high; proper identity proofs are required for admission.
