Srinagar, Feb 8 (KNS): The government is streamlining the school education department with a focus on promotions, appointments, and addressing key challenges in the system, said Director of School Education Kashmir, G N Itoo.
Speaking about the availability of textbooks, he acknowledged previous shortages but assured that significant progress has been made. "Today, we have almost 60% of books in schools, and distribution work is ongoing. We are trying to ensure that before schools reopen, 100% of books will be available in every school," he said.
Itoo credited school heads for preserving old book sets, which have been utilized in various educational programs. "Currently, around 200 winter tutorial centers in Kashmir are benefiting nearly 33,000 students. We have provided old books to these children from the beginning," he added.
Addressing concerns about poor learning outcomes and infrastructural gaps in schools, he said a comprehensive survey had been conducted. "We have formed a special team in the Directorate of Kashmir, and meetings have been held at the administrative department level.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelSCRT, JK Board, and other stakeholders have been directed to develop a roadmap to address infrastructure gaps, teacher capacity building, and student exposure programs,"he stated.
Itoo expressed optimism about the government’s efforts, stating that while progress has been made at several levels, weaknesses are being tackled with the involvement of universities, expert organizations, and NGOs. "We will strictly follow a structured plan to improve learning outcomes," he affirmed.
Regarding the winter tutorial program, he highlighted its impact on students’ academic growth and personality development. "We established 200 centers in Kashmir Valley, benefiting 33,000 students. This program not only enhances academics but also supports moral education, creativity, and digital learning," he said.
He also touched upon the rationalization process, emphasizing better utilization of teachers and the importance of increasing student enrollment in government schools. (KNS)