Minister for Education, Naeem Akhtar, Monday said the state government has asked the educational institutions to do away with the practice of barring the students from appearing in 10th and 12th calss examinations to improve results.“All the heads of educational institutions have been directed not to detain any student for his/her poor performance in the Golden Test,” the Minister said while speaking at a function at Government Higher Secondary School Aragam.MLC, Yasir Reshi, Deputy Commissioner Bandipora, Sajjad Hussain Ganai, Director School Education Kashmir, Dr Shah Faesal, SSP Bandipora, Muhammad Shabir besides other senior officers were also present on the occasion.The Minister said that the Government has already passed an order that no student shall be forced to appear in 10th and 12th Board of School Education (BOSE) annual examination as a private candidate on the basis of his unsatisfactory performance in golden tests.
“The heads of institutions have been asked to organize extra classes for such students to prepare them for the BOSE examinations, while as the Golden test shall invariably be conducted at least two to three months prior to the annual examinations,” the Minister said and added that the performance of faculty members in schools will be assessed on the basis of total enrolment and not number of students who take the examinations. Akhtar said “barring process” doesn’t depict the true picture of education sector and Golden Test should in fact only be a medium to ascertain level of preparedness of a student.The Minister earlier laid the foundation of a six-room block at the school. He said the Government schools, run through tax payers money, have at least been, of late, able to rekindle a level of consciousness about education to an extent that these schools have started getting an ownership of the community.Enumerating various initiatives taken up by the government, the Minister said that the present dispensation has brought about a gender sensitive transfer policy, model school concept, introduction of smart classrooms and vocational courses among various other initiatives to regenerate education sector.
On the occasion the Minister gave away a cash reward of Rs 5000 to Raziya Yusuf a student of Higher Secondary School Aragam for securing distinction in class 10 and also announced a Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya for village Brar.Akhtar said the Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s vision is to change the destiny of JK’s children through various pioneering initiatives of his government aimed at rejuvenation of the education sector. Earlier, an oath-taking ceremony of J&K State Bharat Scouts and Guides was also conducted at the said school in which State Chief Commissioner Scouts and Guides N A Khan administered oath to MLC Yasir Reshi as District President of the voluntary movement.Minister for Education who is also the State President of Bharat Scouts and Guides was the Chief Guest on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that informal education is as important as formal education in building healthy society by institutionalizing the tremendous capacity of young Scouts & Guides. He said the movement plays commendable role to harness and translate energy of scouts and guides into action for socially accepted objectives.During the tour, the Minister also visited various schools in the district.With regard to developmental scenario in the area, the Minister said that black-topping of Sumbal–Gurez road will be prioritized. He also announced that under convergence of MGNREGA with other state schemes, works worth Rs 2 crore involving wall fencing of 35 schools shall be taken up in district Bandipora.
Later, the Minister visited Nadim Memorial Higher Secondary School Kaloosa where he inaugurated a mini auditorium that has come up at an estimated cost of Rs 2.5 crore. He also visited Higher Secondary School, Ajas and interacted with the students and the staff.During his tour, the Minister also inaugurated Solace Rehabilitation Centre at District Hospital, Bandipora. The Minister instructed the concerned to also have an emergency facility at the centre for convenience of the general public.