The Education Department has begun the process of modifying and redesigning the curriculum to make learning job-intensive and allow the students to be market ready.Minister for Education, Naeem Akhtar today held extensive deliberations with the stakeholders in this regard at a meeting convened at Women’s College MA Road here.Speaking at the meeting, the Minister said while most of the archaic subjects being taught in the State’s educational institutions have either become irrelevant or need drastic modifications to bring them in tune with the present day market requirements. “Our educational institutions have to produce assets, not liabilities for which we have to first redesign and update our curriculum,” he said.Akhtar said subjects being taught in the educational institutions have to be in tune with the present market needs and allow students to be market ready, having skills requisite for the fast changing economy.
Reaffirming his commitment to rejuvenate the State’s education system, Akhtar said conscious and concerted efforts are being made to explore potentialities in the students and promote creativity and inquisitiveness among them.He said there is need to introduce such courses and redesign existing ones in such a way that it helps enhance employability of students passing out of higher educational institutions.The meeting extensively deliberated on issues pertaining to modifications and redesigning of courses like English language, mathematics etc. In response to various suggestions on changes in the subject curriculum of English language including functional and literature components, Akhtar said efforts should be made to make the courses simpler, more personality and market friendly. The focus should be on the fact that whether a particular course serves the idea of equipping the student to meet the demands of the present day job-oriented market, he said.
Highlighting the importance of functional component of English language, the Minister said good writing and speaking skills, articulation, grammar and expression are basic to overall personality development of an individual and also add value to the degree.During the meeting deliberations were also held on bringing about modifications, redesigning and introducing courses like applied mathematics, astro-physics and clinical biochemistry among others. The Minister said that all efforts would be made so that the redesigned courses are introduced from the next academic session. He said with regard to changes in the curriculum a series of workshops shall also be started so that the faculty could be reoriented to the changes.
The course and the teaching methods should be such that they promote creativity, inquisitiveness and thought process among the students, the Minister said and asked the teachers to rejuvenate entrepreneurial skills among the students so that they are able to set up income generating units of their own rather than hankering after government jobs. He said there is need to develop working models within institutions with the help of students on commercial lines, so that they could explore their inner abilities, imbibe local needs and job-intensive skills to be enterprisers.Commissioner Secretary School Education, Commissioner Secretary Higher Education, Dean Academics University of Kashmir, Representatives from IUST Awantipora and Kashmir University, Principal, Government College for Women, M A Road, Resource persons and faculty from various colleges were present in the meeting.