Joseph’s Higher Secondary School , Baramulla is established and owned by the Catholic Diocese of Jammu-Srinagar and is administered by its Education Society. Initially this school was a boarding school. After Mill Hill Fathers, the school was taken care by the Society of Jesus and then handed over to the Diocese of Jammu-Srinagar. The school is the premier institute of not only Baramulla town but
the whole of Kashmir. Situated on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad Highway in the lap of the beauteous mountains of Baramulla, St. Joseph’s has come of age and been the lynchpin in the social, cultural, ethical, economic and educational metamorphoses of Baramulla town in particular and its suburbs in general. Established in 1901, it has provided education to the people of the area. Joseph’s Higher Secondary School, is to provide the best possible education to its students in accordance with the needs of the time in order to achieve following things the school aims at:-
Giving a clear concept of theoretical and practical knowledge by adopting activity-oriented teaching methods. Making students global by the use of latest technology and computer aided education. Developing in the students qualities of tolerance, compassion, honesty and integrity, to have great respect for culture and ethos, respect for elders and care for the environment. Developing overall personality by giving equal importance to studies, co-curricular activities and sports. Above all, to making good citizens of the country and valuable members of the society. Joseph’s higher secondary School, Baramulla, is committed to achieve and sustain excellence in imparting holistic education to the students. Co-curricular activities are just as much a part of sound education as studies. It is chiefly through these activities that the various faculties of a child’s personality are revealed. Qualities, such as team spirit, self confidence, leadership, sportsmanship, initiative and proper use of leisure time are developed. Mere book learning is not enough for life. Some Co-curricular activities encouraged are public speaking, dramatics (Hindi and English), dancing, singing, P.T, athletics, educational films, NCC, debates etc. The school is quite environ-friendly. It regards Environmental Protection and Preservation as its prime responsibility. It complies with all applicable Environmental legislation, Regulation and directives, thus helping the students in becoming environmentally knowledgeable, skilled and dedicated citizens. In compliance with the Government ban on smoking at public places, St. Joseph’s has decided to confirm to the ban and has declared its premises as a “No-Smoking Zone”. This is well evidenced by the stark fact that approximately 3000 children springing from different religious and sectarian background are on rolls of the seat of learning to receive educational enlightenment, thronging in from a radius of 30-40 kilometres under a purely secular umbrella. Moreover, the infinite number of illuminating alumni of the past century are scattered and settled in various corners of the globe at the moment, carrying with them the educational ethos inculcated and imbibed in St. Joseph’s. Needless to say that St. Joseph’s school has played a pivotal part in deciding Kashmir’s kismet after having countered the blizzard of violence that haunted it in late 40s, 60s and 80s. In spite of this, the temple of learning assumes a distinctive niche for rendering substantial services by acting as a vehicle for the transmission of cultural resplendence and a source for unravelling the shrouded pearls to bejewel the entire land. Set up in an educational atmosphere where the aspirants of knowledge and wisdom owing to the socio-political clashes and controversies.
107 years is a brief span of time when compared with immortality, yet the period is eligible encompassing enough to form an engrossing history entailing chronicle events, luminous legacy and promising prospects. Joseph’s Higher Secondary School has to its credit the pride and privilege of witnessing these chequered yet charismatic, eventful and adventuresome pages of the past. The alma mater was founded way back in 1905 with the sedulous and self-effacing endeavours of the Mill Hill Missionaries. Its alumni include former Afghan President Mohammad Najibullah, Actress Preeti Zinta and the senior bureaucrats and politicians of Kashmir.
