J&K exam turnout a fitting reply to terrorists, says Prakash Javadekar

New Delhi: In Jammu and Kashmir, Class 10 annual board examinations started on Tuesday, a day after Class 12 began on Monday, which saw a 95 per cent student turnout.

Praising the massive turnout, Union human resource development minister Prakash Javadekar on Tuesday said that the students from Jammu and Kashmir have given a befitting reply to terrorists, which is in itself is a powerful “surgical strike”.

“In Kashmir Valley, for the past several months, schools were shut, while over 30 had been burnt. But students from Jammu and Kashmir, Leh and Ladakh have given a befitting reply to terrorists with a presence of 95 per cent in the exam on Monday,” the minister said.

“I’m proud of those children and their parents who are the strength of India. Education is the way to progress. They have understood and given this befitting reply. We have seen the surgical strike of the Army, but this reply given by students is also a surgical strike,” he said. He said all should get a basic level of education that supports them in life but added that unique talents should be brought to the fore as well.

He also clarified that compulsory class 10 board examinations will be introduced for CBSE students from the next academic session 2017-18.

“Today more than 23 million students appear for tenth board examination over the country through state boards. For CBSE also half the students appear for the exam, while half don’t appear because there was an option available,” Javadekar said. Now those 2 million who chose the option will also have to take the exam, he said.

He emphasised that the measure will be implemented from the next academic year, saying goalposts or rules should not be shifted mid-course. The move will bring about parity with state boards, he said.