In a significant move to reform school education, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has officially designated its Board of School Education (JKBOSE) as the State School Standards Authority (SSSA). This decision, taken on December 2, 2025, aligns the Union Territory with the mandates of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Official Order Aims for Transparent Regulation
The formal order was issued by Under Secretary Thanaji Bhat of the School Education Department. It states that the step is aimed at ensuring transparent, independent, and effective regulation of all schools across Jammu and Kashmir. The order explicitly vests the regulatory powers in JKBOSE, citing the provisions of the NEP 2020.
The authority granted to JKBOSE as the SSSA is comprehensive. It will oversee the critical separation of functions within the school system, including regulatory, academic, examination, and administrative duties. Its core responsibilities will now encompass standard setting, monitoring, and ensuring compliance with norms related to safety, infrastructure, teacher qualifications, governance, and financial probity.
Aligning with National Standards and Precedents
The government's order also references a key recommendation from PARAKH, the national assessment centre under the NCERT. PARAKH has suggested that state examination boards be designated as SSSAs to ensure equivalence of standards across the diverse landscape of school boards in India.
Jammu and Kashmir follows the lead of several other governments that have already implemented this NEP provision. At the national level, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has been notified as an SSSA. Similarly, the school education boards of states like Himachal Pradesh and Mizoram have also received such designations from their respective administrations.
JKBOSE: A Body Ready for the New Role
The order justifies the choice of JKBOSE by highlighting its established credentials. The Board was created under the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education Act, 1975. For decades, it has served as the statutory body responsible for curriculum development, conducting examinations, and affiliating schools in the UT.
Given this long-standing role, JKBOSE already possesses the necessary infrastructure, systems, and expertise to take on the enhanced regulatory functions of the State School Standards Authority. This move is expected to streamline oversight and bring a unified standard of quality and accountability to schools across Jammu and Kashmir.
