Advisor Sharma discusses online education initiatives with Union HRD Minister

Jammu : Advisor to the Lt Governor, K K Sharma Tuesday discussed in detail the initiatives being taken for providing educational facilities to the students of Jammu and Kashmir in view of the situation arisen due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Advisor was interacting with Union Minister for HRD Ramesh Pokhriyal, Minister of State HRD, Sanjay Shamrao and the Union Education Secretary, through video conferencing, which was also attended by Education Ministers of different states.
Principal Secretary Education, Dr Asgar Samoon; Directors Education, Jammu, Kashmir, Anuradha Gupta, Mohammad Younis Malik; Chairman J K Board of School Education, Veena Pandita; State Project Director SAMGRA Shiksha, Arun Manhas; and other officers were also present.
The Advisor apprised the union minister about the various steps taken to provide on–line education to the students through various IT-interventions and the use of services of Doordarshan, AIR, Private channels, which has benefitted a large number of students across Jammu and Kashmir. He also informed him about the decision of UT government to allow the mass promotion of students to next higher classes except 10th and 10+2, for which decision would be taken at an appropriate time.
It was also informed that the UT Government has ensured distribution of Mid Day Meal (MDM) dry ration to all eligible students at their doorsteps.
The Advisor also apprised the union minister that the UT has made appropriate arrangements for checking of answer sheets of students and requested for help in getting the pending books printed from printing presses located outside J&K by allowing them to work during the lockdown.
The Advisor also suggested that MHRD should promote on-line education as an integral part of the teaching–learning process in the country and also help the states and UTs in providing the tablets to the students for accessing the on line content. He said it will deepen the learning process in the country.
The Union Minister appreciated the efforts of the UT in providing the on–line education to the students. He said the government has effectively minimized the academic losses of the students, especially during the
lockdown period and extra ordinary situation arisen due to COVID 19.