Will improve quality of education across J&K: Sakina Itoo
Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Apr 11: In a significant move aimed at strengthening teacher education and improving the overall quality of schooling in the Union Territory, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has approved the upgradation of District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs) in four border districts into the Centres of Excellence.
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The upgradation of these DIETs at Poonch, Kathua, Rajouri and Kupwara into the Centres of Excellence, has been sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs 40.83 crore.
The announcement in this regard was made by the Education Minister Sakina Itoo, who has credited the initiative to the “consistent support and visionary leadership of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah”.
“With the consistent support and visionary leadership of CM, Omar Abdullah, we have approved upgradation of DIETs at Kupwara, Poonch, Kathua and Rajouri as centres of Excellence at an estimated cost of Rs 40.83 crore,” she wrote in a post on social media X.
According to the Minister, the upgradation of these DIETs will play a crucial role in enhancing the capacity of teacher training institutions. The Centres of Excellence are expected to introduce modern teaching methodologies, strengthen academic infrastructure, and provide advanced training facilities for the teachers.
“These Centres of Excellence will significantly strengthen teacher training and improve the quality of education across J&K,” the minister further said in her post, emphasizing the Government’s commitment to educational reforms.
Significantly, all the selected districts-three in Jammu division and one in Kashmir region, are border districts, which are expected to benefit from improved institutional frameworks and will help bridge gaps in teacher preparedness and professional development.
Stakeholders believe that the initiative will not only uplift the standards of teacher education but also have a cascading effect on student learning outcomes. The move aligns with the broader objective of the Government to modernize the education sector and ensure equitable access to quality education across all regions of Jammu and Kashmir.
The project is expected to be implemented in a phased manner, with focus on infrastructure development, faculty training, and integration of innovative teaching practices.
Pertinent to mention that District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs) in Jammu and Kashmir, operate under the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT). These provide comprehensive pre-service and in-service training, focusing on NEP-2020 implementation, inclusive education, and digital pedagogy.
These DIETs engage in tailored training to enhance skills in inclusive education, pedagogy workshops focusing on hard spots in subjects and shifting from content-based to competency-based teaching methodologies, training on incorporating digital technology into classrooms for interactive learning, focusing on mentoring educators and conducting research on educational improvement.
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