Minister of Education Naeem Akhtar today directed the J&K State Board of School Education (BOSE) to start preparations for conduct of forthcoming board examinations on time in Kashmir division.The Minister gave the directions during a review meeting of education Department. The meeting was attended by Commissioner Secretary Education, Director School Education Kashmir, Director School Education Jammu, Secretary BOSE, Director RMSA and other officials.While chairing the meeting the Minister directed the BOSE to set in motion its men and machinery to prepare the ground for smooth conduct of all coming Board examinations including Class 10 and 12. He also directed BOSE to declare the results of Biannual board exams as soon as possible.The meeting also gave green signal for referring vacant posts of teachers under RMSA to the concerned recruiting agency. The Minister said that in the first phase the contractual vacancies would be filled in Kishtwar, Anantnag and Kupwara where majority of such teaching posts are vacant.
The Minister directed the concerned officials to complete the recruitment process on a fast track basis in a phased manner.The Minister also took stock of the working of 132 educational institutes where vocational subjects were introduced to be taught in parallel with general subjects. The Minister was informed that currently general line teachers are teaching these vocational subjects but for the better implementation of the scheme separate skilled teachers should be recruited. While agreeing with the need, the Minister directed the officials to start the process of recruitment of Vocational teachers for these schools. In the first phase the recruitment would be done for 132 schools and more will be added according to need. The teachers would be assigned to teach subjects like IT, Pharmacy, Tourism and others. These vocational subjects would be taught from class 9th onwards. In the second phase 400 schools would be brought within the ambit of teaching vocational subjects.. The Minister also reviewed the pace of work on the construction of girls hostels in 68 educationally backward blocks. It was revealed that the tendering process for the construction of these hostels in Jammu division has been completed whereas in Kashmir there is a backlog which will be taken care of soon. The Minister directed the Commissioner Secretary Education to hold a meeting with concerned officials to speed up the construction of these hostels in Kashmir.