Keeping in view the significance of life skills, the Directorate of School Education, Jammu, in collaboration with Bharti Foundation launched a program on the development of Life Skills in students through the house system.House system has emerged as one of the best systems for student engagement in schools.
In this context, a training programme for teaching staff about life skill development has been initiated to achieve desirable outcomes in scholastic as well as co-scholastic areas.Training is being orgainsed in all ten districts of Jammu Division in a phased manner w.e.f 22th to 30th of August.
The DSEJ, in partnership with Bharti Foundation, has developed a process along with guidelines to develop life skills through the house system following uniform processes. A circular regarding guidelines for strengthening the existing house system in schools has already been issued.
The programme is being coordinated by Counselling Cell DSEJ with the support of Aadharshila and Cultural Innovation cells at DSEJ.The key focus of the programme is to capacitate head of schools and teachers of all high and higher secondary schools including officials supporting these schools to develop a comprehensive understanding of the importance of life skills education and developing life skills through the existing school activities.
In next phase the same will be extended to Middle Schools of Jammu division.Besides offline, online training Manuals have been designed to equip the resource persons to train heads of schools and teachers of schools to adopt and integrate life skills approach in the day-to-day activities.
Speaking on the occasion, Director School Education Jammu, Dr. Ravi Shankar Sharma acknowledged Bharti Foundation and applauded the program which intends to build critical life skills such as problem-solving, collaboration, managing emotions, creative thinking, etc. in line with National Education Policy 2020.
He said that the strengthening of the house system will create healthy competition among students thereby resulting in life skills development.Dr. Romesh Kumar Head Counselling cell DSEJ who happens to be Nodal officer for the programme during his opening remarks opined that this programme will offer a paradigm shift in how schools function.
It will be very meaningful to conduct co-scholastic activities with the “life skills development” as an end in mind.Antony N.J, Chief School Excellence Bharti Foundation along with heads of various divisions from Bharti foundation will impart offline training in all districts of Jammu Division to strengthen the house system for the development of life skills.
In the inaugural session, Antony stressed the importance of focusing on life skills at the school to prepare the students for life so that they can achieve success and support the society they live in.Suraj Singh Rathore, Chief Education Officer Jammu presented a formal welcome address of the programme that was anchored by Dr. Alka Sharma from Counselling Cell DSEJ.
Other prominent people present on the occasion included H.R.Pakhroo Joint Director (SE) , Devender Singh Manhaas DEPO Jammu , Mr. Anil Bhat Project Head Bharti foundation , Surjeet Singh Incharge cultural cell DSEJ , and Other team members of counselling cell DSEJ.