Srinagar, March 17 -- The Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday clarified that the upgradation of high schools to the higher secondary level is subjected to strict criteria.

In a response to a query raised by MLA Pattan, Javid Reyaz, the government, as per the news agency-Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that a high school can only be upgraded if it meets two key requirements-maintaining a minimum distance of 7 km from an existing higher secondary and having 35 students enrolled in the highest class.

The government, meanwhile, ruled out the upgradation of Girls High School Pattan and High School Singhpora Pattan to the higher secondary level, citing non-fulfillment of the prescribed norms.

The government stated that Girls High School...