Minister for Education, Social Welfare, Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo, led a significant review meeting today at the Civil Secretariat. The session aimed to assess the performance and progress of ongoing projects under the School Education and Higher Education Departments across Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting gathered key officials, including Additional Chief Secretary Shantmanu, Secretary School Education Ram Niwas Sharma, and Director General School Education Kashmir Dr. G.N. Itoo. Senior officials from various sectors, including Project Directors from Samagra Shiksha and Chief Engineers, participated to discuss developmental strategies.
During this comprehensive evaluation, Minister Itoo scrutinized ongoing projects under the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA), and the CAPEX budget. She stressed the necessity of timely execution of infrastructure development initiatives, particularly in digital learning, teacher training, and curriculum enhancement.
Strongly advocating for quality in project execution, Itoo directed the agencies to ensure all college construction projects reach completion within set deadlines. She emphasized the need for rigorous monitoring and field inspections to eliminate any bottlenecks in implementation.
Addressing the challenge of faculty shortages, the Minister urged the Higher Education Department to explore options for increasing remuneration for academic arrangement teachers. This strategy aims to attract qualified professionals while permanent vacancies are being filled.
In her discussion on the School Education Department, Minister Itoo focused on the crucial aspect of digital transformation in classrooms. She directed officials to expedite the installation of smart classrooms, ICT labs, and e-content facilities, especially in rural areas to effectively bridge the learning gap.
The effective use of Samagra Shiksha funds was another critical point on the agenda. The Minister instructed Chief Education Officers (CEOs) to maintain close cooperation with project-executing agencies, ensuring works complete promptly.
To enhance project monitoring, Itoo proposed appointing a Nodal Officer in each district to coordinate with the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) for timely vigilance clearances. Additionally, she asked CEOs to submit consistent monthly progress reports to their respective Heads of Departments.
Lastly, the Minister mentioned the need for the early finalization of proposals that pertain to the de-freezing of teacher posts. This move aims to ensure prompt recruitment and bolster the teaching cadre across Jammu and Kashmir.
