Minister for Education, Naeem Akhtar today visited the Leh campus of the Kashmir University here to take stock of the progress of work. The Minister also took a review of the educational facilities in the district.Expressing satisfaction over the work going on in the upcoming campus, the Minister said the operationalization of the campus would open new vistas in higher education for the desert districts of Leh and Kargil. He said given the picturesque location of the Leh campus, it would provide the best academic environs to the students.The Minister also visited the upcoming campus of the Food Craft Institute Leh which is nearing completion. He interacted with the students and the faculty members of the institute and enquired about the facilities there.The Minister was informed that the Food Craft Institute Leh has recently got affiliated with National Institute of Food Technology and it would be starting the diploma courses soon.Akhtar asked the administration of the Food Craft Institute to coordinate with the other educational institutions in the State so that vocational courses in food technology can be introduced there.
The Minister also took a review of the educational scenario and facilities at a meeting with the Principals and Headmasters of the district where he stressed the need for rationalization of teacher-pupil ratio. The Minister said that the teachers in government schools are well qualified and talented; however there is need to provide them an enabling environment which would help attain better results. He reiterated that efforts are being made to bring back focus on education and teaching instead of employment and infrastructure.The Minister also spoke about pooling of manpower and the initiative of clusters under higher secondary schools, with Principal of the higher secondary school as head of the cluster. During the meeting the Minister also asked the concerned to centralize the procurement of teaching learning material (TLM).
On the occasion, the Minister appreciated the mentorship programme started by the district administration for special focus to schools, under which senior officers have been assigned a school for intervention or mentoring. The Minister also emphasized equipping science laboratories in Higher Secondary Schools.During his stay here, various deputations also called on the Minister and briefed him about the issues concerning them.A deputation from Nobra sought immediate rehabilitation of the flood affected and permanent restoration of the infrastructure in the area.A delegation of local BJP cadres discussed the developmental and other issues with the minister.A deputation of Anjuman-e-Moin-ul-Islam sought the state Government’s help in expansion of educational facilities and infrastructure in the area.Akhtar also reviewed PDP’s preparedness for upcoming LAHDC polls scheduled to be held in October 2015 at a meeting of the party office-bearers and cadres of district Leh.