Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand said that various innovative measures are being introduced to streamline the education system at elementary and secondary levels in the State. He called upon the officers of Education department and other stakeholder to improve the results and literacy rate, adding that the problems of any kind that are soluble shall be resolved without losing any time. The Deputy Chief Minister was addressing a well attending meeting of Valley’s Chief Education Officers, DIET Principals and Zonal Education Officers here at Banquet Hall, Srinagar. Tara Chand asked Zonal Education Officers to go in field twice in a week and ensure that all weak students in every class room get special attention to compete with others. He also directed concerned officers to ensure that on every third working day of the month, there shall be meeting with parents at every school to get the proper feedback from the parents.
Deputy Chief Minister spoke tough against those Zonal Education Officers who were found lazy in showing good performance in completion of school building under SSA and directed them to ensure completion of works within next one month. He also enjoined upon them to submit work done progress report on weekly basis. Tara Chand said that all highly qualified and meritorious students get positions in Education department, adding that the Teacher is a torch bearer for a student who is considered as future of the nation. Deputy Chief Minister said that as many as 1500 promotions have been made in Education department recently and assured more promotions shall be made in near future. He said orders have been issued that Teachers shall remain posted at hard places only for one year. He enjoined upon Teachers to work wholeheartedly for the betterment of students and the society.
Reviewing the achievements of the department, the Deputy Chief Minister was informed that a hefty sum of Rs. 186.62 crores was spent on the development of education sector under district and state sectors during the year 2012-13. As many as 616 school buildings have been taken up under state and district sectors at an estimated cost of Rs. 161.13 crore. Of which, 152 buildings were completed while as 462 buildings are at different stages of construction. As many as 66 Science Labs and 79 Toilet blocks have been constructed while as 20 such Labs and 53 blocks are under execution. The Deputy Chief Minister was also informed that under SSA 3681 new Primary Schools were opened, 3608 Primary Schools upgraded and 1581 Education Guarantee Scheme (EGS) Centres upgraded to Primary Schools till now. As many as 3396 Primary and 624 Middle School buildings were completed while as 1023 buildings are under progress.
While reviewing the progress under RMSA, the Deputy Chief Minister was informed that 123 Middle Schools were upgraded to High School level while as 127 High School buildings have taken in hand by R&B for execution. The meeting also reviewed various other programmes which include Midday Meals also. Among others, the Commissioner-Secretary Education department, Hardesh Singh, Director Education Kashmir, Mohammad Shafi Rather, Project Director RMSA, Hilal Ahmad Parray, Project Director SSA, Verma and other officers were present on the occasion.