Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir government designated the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) as the State School Standards Authority (SSSA) for the Union Territory, in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

An official order issued by Thanaji Bhat, Under Secretary in the School Education Department, stated that the move aims to ensure transparent, independent, and effective regulation of schools across the region. “In exercise of the powers vested in the School Education Department, JKBOSE is hereby designated as the State School Standards Authority for the Union Territory, in accordance with NEP-2020 provisions,” the order said.

The SSSA will oversee the separation of regulatory, academic, examination, and administrative functions. It will also be responsible for setting standards, monitoring compliance, and ensuring norms related to school safety, infrastructure, teacher qualifications, governance, and financial probity are followed.

The decision follows recommendations from PARAKH, the national assessment centre under NCERT, which suggested that state examination boards be appointed as SSSAs to maintain uniform standards across boards. Several states, including Himachal Pradesh and Mizoram, as well as the CBSE at the national level, have already designated their boards as SSSAs.

Established under the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education Act, 1975, JKBOSE is a statutory body responsible for curriculum development, examinations, and school affiliations in the UT. The board is equipped with the infrastructure, systems, and expertise required to carry out the regulatory functions mandated under the NEP.