APRIL 21: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo chaired a high-level review meeting to assess the status of school education across Jammu and Kashmir, focusing on enhancing learning outcomes and implementation of various education schemes.
The meeting, attended by key officials including ACS, School Education Department, MD Samagra Shiksha, and Directors of School Education (Jammu/Kashmir), emphasized the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in classrooms. Dulloo directed the department to develop AI-based modules that offer personalized learning for students, with technical support from BISAG-N.
While reviewing enrolment trends, the Chief Secretary expressed concern over stagnant enrolment in government schools despite better infrastructure and investment compared to private institutions. He called for a detailed study to understand this disparity and suggest corrective measures.
To enable data-driven governance, Dulloo instructed the development of a digital dashboard to monitor key indicators like student enrolment, teacher availability, infrastructure, and academic performance.
Basic amenities were also reviewed, with the Chief Secretary stressing the need to ensure uninterrupted water, electricity, and sanitation in all schools. He urged the department to address staffing gaps by leveraging Samagra Shiksha provisions or reviewing current recruitment restrictions.
ACS, School Education, Shantmanu, provided an update on progress under key schemes. Under the PM SHRI scheme, 396 schools have been identified for upgrades, with 250 works underway. Additionally, 45 Atal Tinkering Labs, 159 STEM Labs, and 188 Robotics Labs are being set up.
The state-of-the-art Vidya Samiksha Kendra in Jammu is now operational, offering real-time analytics to inform education policy. Innovations like the JK Attendance App and Smart Attendance system have been adopted by 74% of schools, improving monitoring and accountability.
Significant achievements include completion of 4,691 civil works since 2018, operationalization of 89 KGBVs, and skill training in 1,350 schools with 1.41 lakh students enrolled in 15 trades. Over 17,900 Children with Special Needs are enrolled, with assistive devices provided to nearly 5,000 students.
Implementation of NEP 2020 is underway, with pre-primary classes in 15,550 schools and 16,000 teachers trained in foundational literacy. Two DIETs are being developed as Centres of Excellence.
A total of Rs. 511 crore has been released under various schemes this fiscal, with ambitious goals including 100% ICT lab coverage and vocational education expansion by FY 2025-26.