Commissioner Secretary School Education, Hirdesh Kumar, convened a review meeting of ongoing interventions of Samagra Shiksha in J&K. State Project Director, Samagra Shiksha, Dr. Arun Manhas presented a detailed power point presentation on various components of the flagship programme and discussed progress of existing schemes under Samagra Shiksha being implemented in J&K.Secretary, while reviewing the scheme, stressed upon early completion of school buildings and other construction related activities under civil works. He directed the Construction Divisions to gear up ongoing works especially in remote areas of the Union Territory. He asked the department to optimally utilize ICT Labs and CAL Centres to enhance teaching quality in Government Schools of the UT. Besides, more outreach requires to be done in Government Schools through the interactive portal- J&K Knowledge Network ( JKNN) which has been developed for exchange of knowledge through a computer aided platform.While reviewing the Teacher Education Component, Hirdesh lauded the efforts taken up by Samagra Shiksha in successfully completing the first phase of Resource Persons Training under NISTHA programme in J&K. He also acknowledged the new initiatives taken up by Samagra Shiksha through Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyaan, Pade Bharat Bade Bharat, Science Exhibitions and Shaala Darpan. He said that new and modern pedagogical tools and innovative methods of teaching must be adopted by teachers for transformation of education standards in the UT of J&K.Later, Dr. Manhas apprised the Commissioner that during 2018-19, Vocational Education was introduced in 220 new schools of J&K making a total count of 572. Presently, 13 trades are being taught in these schools with a total enrolment of around 34000 students.
Besides, school desks were provided to government schools in all the districts and free textbooks were provided to 662883 school going children while 869145 children from classes 1st to 8th were provided two sets of free stitched uniforms. Under Inclusive Education, Rs. 73 Lakh were disbursed directly to the bank accounts of eligible CWSN beneficiaries for the first time under DBT mode, he added.Taking stock of Mid Day Meal Scheme, Commissioner Secretary stressed that the daily reporting by the In-charge MDM Teachers on ARMS portal should be ensured and there should be no instructional day in the elementary school which goes without providing of Mid Day Meal to children.Mission Director Mid Day Meal, Dr. Arun Manhas, shared the findings of social audit conducted by University of Kashmir and University of Jammu in 2 districts Budgam and Ganderbal in Kashmir and Ramban and Kathua in Jammu.Commissioner Secretary also interacted with the students who have been selected to participate in PARKISHA PE CHARCHA-2020 at New Delhi on 20th January, 2020.Commissioner Secretary appreciated the efforts of Samagra team in raising the education standards in J&K. He asked the officers to conduct field visits for close monitoring of their respective interventions besides addressing the grievances of public in general and students in specific.Gazzanffer Hussain, Special Secretary School Education, Anuradha Gupta, Director School Education Jammu, Dr. Riyaz, Director Finance, G. M. Hajam, Director Planning, Kulbir Singh, Chief Education Jammu and Coordinators from Samagra Shiksha were present in the meeting were.