Minister for Education Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Wednesday said that a dependable monitoring mechanism is being put in place to make teachers stakeholders for effective schooling.Bukhari was addressing a high level meeting convened here to take stock of education sector of Anantnag and Kulgam districts.The meeting was attended by Abdul Rehman Veeri Minister for Revenue, Disaster Management, Relief Rehabilitation & Reconstruction and Parliamentary Affairs, , Farooq Ahmed Andrabi Minister of State for Haj & Auqaf (Independent charge), PHE and Irrigation & Flood Control, Power Development, Industries & Commerce, Priya Sethi, Minister of State for Education, Technical Education, Culture, Tourism, Department of Horticulture, Floriculture and Parks, Legislators Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, Abdul Majeed Padder, Gulzar Ahmed Wani, Altaf Ahmed Kaloo, Abdul Rahim Rather, Abdul Majeed Larmi, Mohammad Amin Bhat and Mohammad Yousuf Bhat.In his address, Bukhari highlighted the key role of teachers in shaping future of the society. In order to monitor and streamline functioning of the schools in the State, the Minister for Education said all the Chief Education Officer (CEOs), Zonal Education Officers (ZEOs) shall spare 3-days exclusively in a week to conduct the tour for inspection of schools falling under their jurisdiction.
He said that these officers have been directed to furnish their inspection reports to the Director School Education of the respective divisions on weekly basis.Stressing on rejuvenation of education at school level, Bukhari said his top priorities include reduction in school drop-out rate, enrolling out-of-school children, imparting quality education and improving the monitoring mechanism in government run Schools.“We are on the job of evolving a holistic surveillance mechanism that shall ensure effective schooling and timely redress of grievances at the grassroots level,” he added.Bukhari said that his focus is on instilling sense of duty and responsibility in teachers, making them accountable and motivating parents besides involving legislators and local bodies in managing school affairs to restore the glory of education in the State.
Appreciating the concern registered by the legislators present in the meeting with regard to malfunctioning of schools in their respective areas, Bukhari assured them of timely redress of their grievances.On this occasion, the Minister directed the officers to restore the confidence of legislators and take action on their inputs provided in the interest providing better education system in their respective constituencies.
During the meeting, the legislators put forward their grievances and issues related to school education of their respective constituencies. The issues includes the shortage of teachers and Head Masters, lack of toilets, shortage of space in schools, addition of subjects, and other related issues.The demand for upgradation of Middle Schools into High Schools and the development of Modal schools also came up during the discussion.Speaking during the meeting, Veeri said that education is the basis for the development of any nation and to develop the state of Jammu and Kashmir, an effective monitoring system needs to be put in place.Bukhari assured that all the education system will be monitored closely and all the constituencies will be treated equally irrespective of political affiliations.He promised the legislators that he will look into the different grievances and issues and solve them at the earliest and asked them to take responsibilities of their constituencies with regards to education.Among others, Secretary Education, DC Anantnag, DC Kulgam, Directors of Education, SSA, RMSA, officials from R&B and other concerned officials attended the meeting.