Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 13: Minister for Education, Naeem Akhtar today said that Government has taken several steps aimed at revolutionizing the education sector by way of training teachers, opening of model schools, starting of evening classes and rationalizing of school system in the State.
The Minister was replying to the discussion on demand of grants for Education, Technical Education and Youth Services and Sports Departments in the Legislative Assembly today.
Akhtar said that collective wisdom of the House is needed to streamline the education sector, adding the State is at bottom of ladder of literacy in India and work is needed to reverse the trend. He said that during the 10 years period from 2005-2015 the State spent Rs 40,000 crore on education sector with very little returns.
“But now we will spend to get returns from the investments by way of increase in quality of education and production of skilled human resource capital”, he further added.
Akhtar said that steps are afoot to address the issues of low learning levels and ill competence, adding in spite of having access to Rs 9000 crore under SSA during the last six years, the State utilized only Rs 5500 crore. Similarly, the State could only spend Rs 540 crore during the last five years despite having access to Rs 1750 crore under RMSA.
The Minister said that the Government is also working to address the shortage of specialist teachers by getting the service of volunteers from outside the State and foreign universities. The department has also signed MoU with British Council as part of efforts to strengthen the teaching of English language in the Government schools, he added.
Akhtar said that witnessing the initiatives, Centre has also approved new schemes with revised costs which were otherwise stopped. He said that Government is now working on establishing Girls Hostels at a revised cost of Rs 3 crore besides computerization process in all schools has been undertaken.
The Minister also assured the House that 220 schools that were approved to be made as Model Schools in 2010 would be now completed by ending July of current year. He said these model schools would have all modern teaching facilities besides smart classes and computers.
Regarding vocational training in schools, Akhtar said that the Department has signed an MoU with Skill Development Corporation of India for starting such courses in 112 educational institutes. He said that Government is working on policy to provide minimum of three teachers for lower schools, five teachers for primary schools and eight teachers for niddle schools. He said that Government has also checked absenteeism in Government schools and biometric attendance has been started in all high schools and higher secondary schools. He said that screening test of ReTs is going on in full swing and the salary of same will be released soon.
The Minister said that Government is also working hard to provide better higher education facilities. He said that two cluster universities in Jammu and Srinagar have been approved and 124 teaching posts have been created. He said that Physical Education is also among the priorities of Government. “We have got Rs 200 crore from Prime Ministers Package for promoting sports activities and creating infrastructure,” he said. “In addition to it, funds are also available from other schemes for development of sports infrastructure in the State”, he added.
Later, the House passed the grants of Education, Technical Education, Youth Services and Sports Council and Art & Culture Departments for the year 2016-17, which were moved by the Minister, amounting to Rs 8700.48 crore with voice vote.
Earlier, initiating the discussion on demand of grants for, Javed Beg said Education Department has been made transfer industry and enough funds have not been allocated for it. The Government created new educational institutions but it lacks staff. He said there is adhocism at University level and raised the issue of blackmailing of students by HoDs in Universities.
Dinanath Bhagat raised the issue of staff deficiency and dilapidated school building in his constituency while as Mubarak Gul expressed concern over the mass copying in examinations. He demanded use of modern technology to curb this menace.
Rigzin Jora asked why private schools with less qualified and less salary teachers are performing far better than the Government schools. He said that the Government has gone for massive expansion in higher education and now it should concentrate on consolidation.
Syed Altaf Bukhari raised the issue of DAV Schools in his constituencies that were built on Government land and now have been sold. He expressed concern over the drop in enrollment rate in government schools. Engineer Abdul Rashid Sheikh demanded Degree College for Langate.
Ravinder Raina demanded that Sunderbani Degree College which is functioning from a middle school be provided a building. He demanded guidelines for merger of schools. Sheikh Ashfaq Jabbar said that the Central University that is being established in Ganderbal has missed third deadline. He said that the University is paying Rs 40 lakh as rent for operating from private buildings and demanded that the buildings be completed on fast track basis.
Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen stressed for strengthening of primary level education. He raised the issue of KGVB teachers and demanded that their grievance be redressed. GM Saroori raised the issue of Urdu language which he said has been neglected.
Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami expressed concern over commercialization of education which is otherwise social service. He said that Government should safeguard education sector from radicalization. He demanded establishment of Heritage Centres in Schools.
Mohammad Yusuf Bhat demanded upgradiation of schools and Women’s College for his constituency. While as Jeevan Lal expressed concern over the corruption in the Directorate and District Education Offices. Bashir Ahmad Dar said that education sector in rural areas has been neglected, adding there has been no rationalization in Government schools in urban areas. He demanded Degree College for Kralpora.
Agha Syed Rahullah Mehdi demanded setting up of Degree College for Women in Budgam while as Mohammad Akbar Lone called for early establishment of two engineering colleges at Ganderbal and Kathua. Deldan Namgyal demanded filling up of vacant post of lecturers in his constituency while as Pawan Kumar Gupta said the campuses of the universities should be shifted out of the capital cities of the State.
Mohammad Abbas Wani called for early completion of Model Degree College building in his constituency while as Daleep Singh Parihar demanded establishment of a Degree College and Higher Secondary Schools in his constituency. Asgar Ali Karbalaie demanded introduction of job-oriented courses in the University of Kashmir campus at Kargil.
Raja Manzoor Ahmad called for early construction of Higher Secondary Schools and Degree College buildings in his constituency while as Neelam Kumar Langeh demanded separate Girls Higher Secondary School in his constituency. Vikar Rasool complained about shortage of teaching staff in schools across his constituency. He also sought early completion of school building under RMSA and SSA.
Javaid Mustafa Mir sought separate toilet facilities for girl students in each school of his constituency. He also demanded monitoring of funds being incurred on development of educational infrastructure under SSA and RMSA.
Ranbir Singh Pathania said the educational institutions in J&K have a lopsided student-teacher ratio which must be checked. He also pleaded for implementation of Right to Information Act. He also demanded establishment of ITI at Ramnagar. Gulzar Ahmad Wani demanded that ST population and other backward areas should be exempted from rationalisation process.
Aijaz Ahmad Mir demanded setting up of Degree College in his constituency while as Devinder Kumar Manyal demanded constitution of Education Committee under the chairmanship of concerned legislators on the pattern of Health and Medical Education Department. Usman Abdul Majid demanded implementation of transfer policy and introduction of transfer policy for female ReTs.
Anjum Fazli appreciated the steps taken by the Education Minister and demanded establishment of separate stadia for girls in each region of the state. Choudhary Mohammad Akram demanded filing up of vacant posts of teachers in his constituency. Dr. Krishen Lal sought review of inter district transfer policy. He also demanded posting of Safai Karamcharis in every school in his constituency.
Abdul Majid Padder pleaded for filling up of vacant posts of Headmasters in his constituency. He sought exemption of schools from rationalisation policy given the hilly topography of the Noorabad constituency. Kamal Verma demanded further improvement in education system in hilly areas.
Yawar Ahmad Mir suggested that consolidation and expansion need to go together. He also pleaded for improvement in education system and demanded that schools in far-flung areas should be prioritized for development. Noor Mohammad Sheikh said various schools in his constituency face shortage of accommodation which need to be addressed. He also pleaded for development of playfields in his constituency.
Abdul Rahim Rather said the present generation of students in J&K are highly talented while stressing on the need for exploring it properly. He pleaded for imparting training to teaching staff. Javaid Rana congratulated opening of mobile schools for Tribals. He said free education to girl child is also a good step and pleaded for provision of free transport facilities for them. Shah Mohammad Tantray demanded filling of vacant post of teachers in his constituency.
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