The Jammu and Kashmir government has officially announced that end-of-year examinations for students up to Class 9 in the Kashmir Valley will take place in December. This decision comes after weeks of speculation regarding the exam schedule and aligns with the government’s recent update to the academic calendar, which designates November and December as the final months of the academic term for primary and middle school students.

Minister’s Assurance

Sakina Itoo, the Minister for Education, has reassured parents and students about the arrangements for the examinations, emphasizing that adequate measures will be taken to address the challenges posed by winter weather. She stated, “The examinations up to Class 9 will be conducted in December. Parents and students should not worry about the cold weather. We will make all necessary arrangements in the examination halls”.

Transition to a Uniform Academic Calendar

This year marks the first time that exams for lower classes are firmly scheduled in December, reflecting a shift towards a more uniform academic calendar that began with the 2022-23 academic year. Starting next year, exams for students in Classes 10 to 12 will also follow this November-December cycle, further standardizing the academic schedule across the region.

Community Response

The announcement has been positively received by both parents and educators, who have expressed relief over the clear timeline and the government’s commitment to ensuring comfortable examination conditions despite the cold.