Dulloo stresses on enhancing quality, technology integration
Jammu: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, Friday chaired a comprehensive review meeting of the School Education Department to assess the progress and implementation of various initiatives aimed at improving teaching-learning outcomes in schools across all districts of Jammu and Kashmir. The meeting was attended by the Secretary, School Education; Project Director, Samagra Shiksha; Director, School Education, Jammu/Kashmir, along with other senior officers of the department. The review focused on both academic and administrative reforms, technological interventions, infrastructure development and human resource management issues concerning the school education system in the UT.
During the deliberations, the Chief Secretary assessed the status of the Five-Year Plan submitted to the Ministry of Education, focusing on various educational initiatives including Aadhaar enrollment, human resource management, and the establishment of Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs). Addressing the meeting Chief Secretary expressed concern over the low enrollment rates in government schools, particularly at the primary level, despite the provision of free meals, uniforms, and textbooks. The Chief Secretary directed the department to conduct a thorough assessment to identify gaps and develop strategies to improve educational quality and boost parental confidence in government institutions. Highlighting the transformative potential of technology in education, he called for more focused and inclusive technological interventions. The Chief Secretary emphasized the need to enhance the Vidya Samiksha Kendra (VSK) platform with diverse learning materials and high-quality educational videos to facilitate effective learning. He also encouraged the exploration of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funding from major public sector undertakings and local businesses to support educational initiatives, offering his full support for such collaborations. The Chief Secretary instructed the timely distribution of textbooks to students and emphasized the need for a robust mechanism to prevent illegal admission fees charged by private schools, advocating for an effective enforcement strategy in Jammu and Kashmir. He underscored the importance of integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) and analytics into the education system to make learning resources more accessible and user-friendly for students and teachers. In addressing human resource issues, the Chief Secretary reviewed the status of seniority lists and departmental promotions, urging the department to prioritize these matters to allow teachers to concentrate on delivering quality education. Secretary of School Education, Ram Niwas Sharma, reported on a comprehensive Five-Year Action Plan with a budget of Rs. 1,678.91 crore aimed at enhancing educational infrastructure, including the establishment of various labs and smart classrooms. He also announced the introduction of pre-board examinations for Class 10th and 12th students to improve their academic performance and plans for transport facilities to reduce dropout rates in remote areas. Current statistics indicate that government schools have an enrollment of 1,356,838 students, surpassing the 1,260,979 in private institutions. The operational educational institutions in Jammu and Kashmir include 36 KVs, 21 JNVs, and various other schools, with additional institutions planned. Over 6,400 Parent-Teacher Meetings and enrollment drives have been conducted, leading to improved admissions and parental engagement. The Secretary assured that all seniority lists for 36 cadres would be released by January 2026, followed by departmental promotions to facilitate career advancement for eligible staff. Anuj Chugh from the VSK team provided updates on the implementation of the Ministry of Education’s 6A Framework and outlined future expansion plans for the initiative in the Union Territory.
