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       MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government has suspended the registration of 474 private educational institutions that failed to participate in the online Education Census 2024, granting them a two-week grace period to avoid further disciplinary action,an official said onThursday.

       The online census, launched in September 2024, marked the first such initiative by the AJK Private Educational Institutions Registration Authority (PEIRA) in collaboration with the Directorate of Educational Management Information System (EMIS).

       The purpose was to provide a comprehensive overview of the educational landscape in the region and utilise the data for future planning.

       The census collected detailed information about private institutions, including class- and gender-wise data on students, teachers’ qualifications, gender, and professional training. It also documented the availability of educational facilities such as buildings, classrooms, science and computer labs, libraries, electricity, internet, drinking water, washrooms, sports, and co-curricular activity facilities.

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       According to AJK-PEIRA Chairman Syed Saleem Gardezi, who also serves as Special Secretary of Elementary and Secondary Education, over 2,000 registered and unregistered private institutions across the state shared their data online through the authority’s web portal, which was being verified through a standardized mechanism.

       However, 474 registered institutions failed to participate in the census and did not submit their data. These included 126 institutions from Muzaffarabad, 96 from Kotli, 57 from Poonch, 47 from Bhimber, 43 from Mirpur, 39 from Bagh, 27 from Jhelum Valley, 18 from Neelum, 15 from Sudhnoti, and 6 from Haveli, he said.

       Mr Gardezi maintained that accurate educational statistics were crucial for implementing current education policies, meeting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and complying with the AJK Private Educational Institutions (Promotion and Regulation) Act 2007, the auxiliary rules of 2015, and registration requirements.

       He pointed out that by failing to participate in the census, these institutions violated the law and regulations, leading to the suspension of their registrations.

       “These institutions have been given 15 days to fulfil the requirements. Failure to comply will result in the permanent cancellation of their registrations, and they will no longer be permitted to operate,” he said. Mr Gardezi made it clear that unregistered institutions would not be considered for registration or allowed to continue their educational activities in the future if they failed to participate in the census.

       Additionally, he warned institutions that had submitted incorrect data to rectify their information or face disciplinary action.

       He said a directive regarding these measures had been issued and communicated to all relevant parties, including the AJK Board of Elementary and Secondary Education in Mirpur.

       Published in Dawn, December 20th, 2024