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| 25 per cent J&K population is in schools | | |
JAMMU, FEBRUARY 6- Lauding the endeavours being made to expand the educational network in Jammu and Kashmir with rolls in schools already swelling to over 25 lakhs, about 25 per cent of the State population, Governor Lt. General (Retd) S K Sinha today urged the planners to concentrate on further improving the quality of education.
The Governor also called for devising a mechanism to ensure coverage of Gujjar and Bakerwal children through mobile schools upto the primary level and boarding facilities for them for pursuing higher studies.
General Sinha’s comments came during the presentation of concept-paper on education to girl child by a Non-Governmental Organisation, Centre for Civil Society, at Raj Bhavan this morning.
Education Minister Peerzada Mohammed Sayeed and Secretary Education, Mr K M Wani gave an overview of the educational scenario in the State. Principal Secretary to Governor, Dr Arun Kumar was also present.
Significantly, the roll of girl students has risen to 45 per cent from 39 per cent in 2002-03 while overall enrollment has shot up to 3 lakhs. In the past three to four years, 3000 primary schools have been opened and 4000 upgraded under various centrally sponsored programmes. The State has 23570 government and 3436 private schools.
In higher and senior secondary level education, thrust is being laid on infrastructure development which the Governor termed necessary for improving the academic quality. He was informed that infrastructure continues to be a handicap with majority of primary schools having 3 rooms instead of requisite five to six rooms. With a view to improve infrastructural facilities, the Centre is contemplating to universalize the secondary education on the analogy of Universalization of Primary Education.
For various segments of society including Gujjar and Bakerwal communities, seasonal camp schools are in operation in various parts of the State. Efforts are also underway to have adequate number of hostels in place in various districts of the State for children belonging to disadvantageous segments of the society to pursue education.
The Education Minister spelt out the measures being taken to enhance the reach of education, saying that the schooling facility is within one kilometer to 88 per cent of students and within 2 kilometers to 8 per cent students in the State. He said thrust will be laid on training of teachers for achieving the goal of providing quality education at all the levels.
Giving the representation, Mr Parth J Shah, President, Centre for Civil Society gave broad outlines of ensuring quality education to disadvantageous segments of children. He talked about 2-proged approach of building on the existing private schools and reforming government schools. He emphasised on education voucher scheme that is in vogue in several countries including US and said that if adopted in Jammu and Kashmir the have-nots among these segments can have access to reputed private educational institutions.
The NGO is promoting the novel education voucher scheme which envisages issuance of a coupon by the Government covering tuition up to the specified amount at any participating school as these, inter alia, promote competition among schools providing them the incentive to improve performance.
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