Minister of State for Education, Technical Education, Tourism and Culture, Priya Sethi today said that the state government would soon introduce best teacher award and reward for school heads for extraordinary performance of the government educational institutions.The Minister emphasized on adopting result oriented approach by principals and teachers of Government run schools, while speaking at high level meeting attended by Secretary Education, Farooq Ahmed Shah, State Project Director, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Abdul Rashid War, State Project Director, Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), Tufail Mattoo, Director School Education, Jammu, Rakesh Kumar Srangal, Joint Director, School Education, Jammu, Charandeep Singh, Deputy Director, Planning , Deepa Sharma , Chief Education Officer , J K Sudan besides concerned Chief Education Officer and Zonal Education Officers (ZEOs) of the education department along with Principals of Higher Secondary Schools of Jammu district.She said for better results the heads must own their schools and put in committed efforts to maintain the quality education being imparted to the students.“We must realise the fact that when we are nurturing a child in school, we are nurturing the future of the nation”, the Minister maintained.
Priya Sethi stressed on fixing responsibilities of institution heads for the board exam results adding that the principals and teachers owe major role in achieving comprehensive development in education system.Exhorting upon the need to encourage the principals and the teachers, the Minister announced the introduction of Best Teacher Award at different levels. The Minister also announced cash rewards to the Principals bringing CSR funding and increasing the enrolment of students by 20 % in their respective schools.During the meeting, detailed discussions were held on issues pertaining to streamlining the educational setup in Higher secondary schools including upgrading of infrastructure, meeting teaching staff requirement, enrolment of students, optimal utilization of resources, enhancing sports infrastructure, organising extracurricular activities, spreading awareness regarding achievements of the Government schools, planning of enrolment drives, holding parents meet, issues of border area schools and migrants schools and many alike.Desiring to dedicate a trophy as a tribute to the prestigious SRML School, a pioneer institution of J&K State, the Minister asked the concerned officers to prepare a detailed plan in this regard. She further asked them to prepare a calendar for activities under the proposed programme. She said that the district administration will also be roped in and a model school from all districts will have a rolling trophy on the same lines.Priya Sethi further directed to prepare an inclusive plan for organizing the annual days in all Higher Secondary schools and submit a report in advance. She said that events like these provide platform to the students to showcase their talent. The Minister also constituted a team of Principals to prepare a report on rationalizing the schools on stream based on the basis of available infrastructure, faculty, staff and other facilities.She further asked the concerned officers to identify Government Girls Schools to be developed as co–education schools.
Meanwhile, Priya Sethi asked the school administrations to continue cleanliness campaign and grow botanical gardens in the premises.The Minister passed direction for transfer of clerks and lab assistants with more than 2 years of service in same school.Priya Sethi said that the schools with less or no sports field must utilize sports fields of other schools. She directed all the ZEOs to maintain their tour diaries.During the interactive session with the Principals, the Minister sought a report regarding the enrolment of students and performance of the schools in the recently declared result for 12th standard. She asked them to take inspiration from each other and adopt best practices to improve the quality of education.“Tests will be conducted after 4 months for 10th and 12th standards in the schools with poor results to analyze the improvement,” the Minister said. She asked the senior functionaries of education department to categorize the schools on basis of results so that necessary measures shall be taken.Stressing on imbibing cultural and moral values among the students, the Minister stressed on organizing informative events like children film festivals, heritage visits and alike.The Minister called for the pooling of resources for the interest of the students and further directed the principals to start evening classes especially for underprivileged children.She asked them to ensure the effective implementation of directions passed in the meeting and further directed to initiate strict action taken on absentees.She also congratulated the heads of the Higher Secondary schools for increase in the result percentage as compared to the previous year.The meeting also discussed the plan for organising workshops mentored by music teachers to train general line teachers in higher secondary schools, workshops of physical education teachers and lab assistants, regional languages in schools, audit for physical infrastructure in government schools, decoration in schools and developing Herbal gardens.