The implementation of the Uniform Academic Calendar (UAC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s higher education landscape has sparked an unsettling debate. What was intended as a visionary reform to streamline academic schedules and synchronize the functioning of colleges and universities has instead exposed a glaring disconnect between the Jammu and Kashmir Higher Education Department (JKHED) and the state’s universities, particularly Kashmir University (KU). Despite clear directives from JKHED to adopt a unified academic framework, Kashmir University seems intent on charting its own course. The university’s recent announcement of undergraduate examination dates during the proposed winter vacation period has not only ruffled feathers but has also brought to light deep-seated operational dissonance. Faculty members at Government Degree Colleges (GDCs) affiliated with KU are among the most aggrieved. With winter vacations starting on December 27, these faculty members will be unavailable as per UAC to assist in the conduct of examinations. The logistical challenge this
creates has been entirely overlooked by KU, leaving college administrations scrambling for solutions. The timing of the examinations is also problematic due to climatic conditions. The period from December 21 marks the beginning of Chilai Kalan—a 40-day stretch of extreme cold that grips the Kashmir Valley. This further compounds the difficulties for GDCs, which must now ensure proper heating arrangements in examination halls, an additional burden during a time when resources are already strained. In defense of the examination schedule, the Vice-Chancellor of Kashmir University stated that the university is bound to complete undergraduate degrees on time, and hence, the issuance of the examination calendar is a routine process that “should not be seen as otherwise.” However, this justification raises further questions. The UAC directive has been in effect since 2022, so why wasn’t the examination calendar framed in a way that ensured the last paper was completed by December 26, 2024, before the winter vacation officially begins by December 27 as per UAC? Adding to the complexity, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Higher Education Minister Sakina Yatoo recently announced a significant shift in the academic calendar. The government has decided to revert to the centuries-old March session for schools up to the 9th class, abandoning the July session adopted in recent years to align with the one nation, one session academic calendar.
“On one side, JKHED seeks to unify and modernize academic schedules in line with national education policies. On the other, universities like KU appear resistant, clinging to fragmented, insular practices that undermine systemic coherence. This disconnect raises pressing questions: Is it mere miscommunication, or a deeper indifference to state-led reforms? Why has JKHED failed to enforce compliance among universities? And what does this mean for students and faculty, who are caught in the crossfire of institutional stubbornness? For a region striving to elevate its education system to national and global standards, such discord is a setback.”
The March session will be extended to higher classes up to the 12th standard by 2025, and by 2026, the UAC will also need to adapt to this shift to align college admissions with the new March session for 12th pass students, replacing the current July session. This decision essentially nullifies the current UAC, rendering it ineffective in the long term. As the academic calendar undergoes a complete overhaul, the existing UAC appears more like a temporary patch than a sustainable framework. Permanent faculty in GDCs are also calling for a postponement of examinations to align with the vacation schedules enjoyed by their counterparts in Jammu Division. They argue that the absence of a standardized approach not only disrupts work-life balance but also deepens the divide between institutions in the two regions. Ironically, while KU insists on holding exams during the vacation period, it has simultaneously announced winter vacations for its own teaching departments from January 1, 2025, to February 23, 2025. This blatant disregard for JKHED’s UAC directive is nothing short of institutional defiance. By prioritizing its internal agenda over the collective vision of the state’s higher education system, KU has effectively thrown JKHED’s orders into the dustbin. What emerges from this scenario is more than just a tussle over dates—it is a fundamental clash of priorities. On one side, JKHED seeks to unify and modernize academic schedules in line with national education policies. On the other, universities like KU appear resistant, clinging to fragmented, insular practices that undermine systemic coherence. This disconnect raises pressing questions: Is it mere miscommunication, or a deeper indifference to state-led reforms? Why has JKHED failed to enforce compliance among universities? And what does this mean for students and faculty, who are caught in the crossfire of institutional stubbornness? For a region striving to elevate its education system to national and global standards, such discord is a setback. If the UAC is to succeed, JKHED must assert its authority and ensure that all institutions, including autonomous universities like KU, align their operations with state policies. Without decisive action, the dream of a streamlined, efficient higher education system in Jammu and Kashmir will remain just that—a dream.
(The author is a teacher at Govt Degree College Khansahib, Budgam.The views, opinions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”)
Dr. Ashraf Zainabi
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