Jammu and Kashmir’s Minister for Education, Social Welfare, Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo, chaired a pivotal review meeting at the Civil Secretariat today. This meeting focused on assessing the performance and progress of ongoing projects in both the School Education and Higher Education Departments in Jammu and Kashmir.
The high-level meeting gathered esteemed officials including Additional Chief Secretary Shantmanu, Secretary of School Education Ram Niwas Sharma, and Director General of School Education Kashmir Dr. G.N. Itoo, alongside various heads of departments and district education officers.
During the meeting, Minister Itoo conducted a thorough evaluation of crucial developmental initiatives, infrastructure projects, and academic reforms being rolled out throughout the region.
She emphasized the importance of timely execution of key projects under the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) and Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA), along with the CAPEX budget. The focus will particularly be on infrastructure development, digital learning, teacher training, and curriculum enhancement to elevate educational standards.
Minister Itoo instructed executing agencies to ensure that all college construction projects meet their deadlines while adhering to high-quality standards. Further, she called for rigorous monitoring to address any implementation bottlenecks.
Addressing the issue of faculty shortages, she urged the Higher Education Department to assess the potential for increasing remuneration for academic arrangement teachers. This move aims to attract qualified professionals until permanent positions are filled. Furthermore, she called for creating sanctioned posts for each newly established degree college to facilitate smooth operations.
In her review of the School Education Department, Minister Itoo advocated for a digital transformation of classrooms. She instructed officials to expedite the establishment of smart classrooms, ICT labs, and e-content facilities. These initiatives primarily target rural and remote areas to reduce educational disparities.
Additionally, she urged the Chief Education Officers (CEOs) to effectively utilize Samagra Shiksha funds and collaborate with executing agencies for the early completion of education projects.
To strengthen oversight, the Minister directed the appointment of a Nodal Officer in each district to liaise with the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) for expedited vigilance clearances. She also emphasized the importance of submitting monthly progress reports from CEOs to their respective Heads of Departments.
Lastly, Minister Itoo called for the rapid finalization of proposals to de-freeze teacher positions. This is essential for timely recruitment and enhancing the teaching workforce across Jammu and Kashmir.
