The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has introduced major reforms in the school education sector with landmark decisions to ensure quality, equity, accessibility, accountability and affordability in the system besides improving teaching and learning standards in schools of the Union Territory.
The department of School Education has achieved landmark strides so far by effectively implementing all schemes and projects envisaging a notable improvement in the existing curriculum besides embarking upon several innovative new projects and works.
The infrastructural edifice in schools of the UT has also witnessed tremendous upgradation and improvement. About 700 construction works under Samagra Shiksha, UT CAPEX budget and JKIDFC besides major works were completed including 5 Girls Hostels at a cost of Rs. 13 crore and 5 KGBVs at a cost of Rs. 1.98 crore. Also, 15 major projects were e-inaugurated by the Lieutenant Governor in this month.
The major initiatives in pipeline are finalization of RTE rules for ensuring “Quality Education” at “doorsteps” to all school children, SCERT J&K proposed to be established by merging existing SIEs and 20 DIETs to mainstream teacher education/curriculum reforms, 626 vocational Labs being established in approved schools after prevailing COVID-19 lockdown, 3rd party evaluation of learning teaching outcomes shall be conducted in 500 schools through Quality Council of India, Akshya Patra an NGO shall be entrusted with the task of providing mid day meal to a few identified schools falling in the jurisdiction of urban local bodies of districts of Jammu and Samba. Besides, PFMS platform shall be used to bring about transparency in utilization of funds released under Mid Day Meal and Samagra Shiksha and 19 new Model Schools shall be developed on the pattern of Kendriya Vidyalayas during the next three years.
In order to strengthen Human Resource Management, the government regularized about 38000 RETs besides ensuring their capacity building under Integrated Multidisciplinary Professional Advancement Course for Teachers (IMPACT) programme.
Fulfilling its commitment towards ensuring Inclusive Education, 23,405 Children With Special Need (CWSN) were identified, of which, 16115 CWSN were enrolled students. Besides, Stipend, Escort and Reader allowance of Rs 1.20 crore was disbursed among 2838 children with special needs through DBT mode and 42 laptops were provided to Special Educators for Visually Impaired Children. Also, 1785 Aids and Appliances were distributed among the CWSN during 2019-20.
Likewise, 12 CWSN from J&K participated in the International Anjali Festival in Orissa and bagged 3rd Position and Special Jury Award. Also, 30,142 Gujjar/Bakerwal children were provided education in 1,417 seasonal centres by engaging 1,570 seasonal education volunteers during 2019-20 and similar arrangements were made this year.
Out of 23,857 out of school children identified in 3 districts of Budgam, Samba and Jammu, 2,765 children were enrolled in Non Resident Special Training Centres (NRSTCs) and 1,151 were enrolled and mainstreamed into regular education system.
Towards improving quality of education in schools, JK-DIKSHA and Vidya Daan Apps/Portals were launched in J&K; so far, 60,154 users downloaded DIKSHA App. Besides, virtual trainings were conducted in 2 phases through JananPrabodhini, official partner of MHRD for DIKSHA. Nearly, 2500 ICT labs for secondary schools are being established and 100% saturation of KG/Pre-schooling being attained in 1000 Government Schools with toilet, drinking water facility and e