Minister for Education, Sakeena Itoo today said that the Government is focusing on strengthening existing infrastructure in schools and filling vacancies to cater the growing educational needs of students rather than opening new schools.

The Minister said this while replying to a clubbed question of Legislators, Mir Saifullah and Farooq Ahmad Shah on upgradation of schools in Legislative Assembly today.
The Minister informed the house that there is no such proposal with the Government for up-gradation of schools to their next higher level (Primary to Middle, Middle to High and High to Higher Secondary) as the School Education Department is presently focusing on strengthening of existing schools by way of creation of required infrastructure and providing staff to all the existing schools across the Union Territory especially the upgraded ones.
She further said that the up-gradation of schools from High school to Higher secondary level involves establishing infrastructure, creation of posts of lecturers and non-teaching staff, involving huge financial implications and requires concurrence form the Finance Department.
The Minister also informed the house that as and when the department proposes up-gradation of schools the demand for upgradation of schools of Trehgam constituency shall be examined for consideration.