J&K setting new standards in education: Priya

Excelsior Correspondent
SAMBA, Dec 17: Minister of State for Information, Education and Culture, Priya Sethi today asked the functionaries of the Education Department to get the new technology-driven initiatives rolling in the educational institutions to improve the quality of teaching and learning. She said J&K has already started setting new standards in education.
Interacting with the functionaries of the Education Department during her visit to various schools in district Samba today, the Minister said that the Government has initiated various measures to transform the education sector so that the students from J&K can compete with their counterparts in other States of the country. She said the initiatives like smart classrooms, Model Schools, Cluster Universities and other such measures are going a long way in improving the quality of teaching and learning.
During her visit, the Minister took stock of the facilities in educational institutions of Samba including checking the quality of the mid-day meals being given to the students.
The Minister was accompanied by MLA Samba, Dr Devinder Kumar Manyal, Director School Education Jammu, Smita Sethi, ADC Samba, Pawan Sharma, CEO Samba, O P Bhagat and other officers of Education Department Samba.
During the visit, the Minister inspected GHSS Boys Samba, GHSS Girls Samba, Government Middle School Kehli Mandi, Government Middle School Budwani and Government High School Diani. She interacted with students and staff members and stressed upon developing good reading and writing skills.
At GHSS Girls Samba, the Minister enquired from CEO about steps being taken to make it a model school. The School Principal was directed to install internet connection in school and make sure that every the teachers follow a lesson plan and check the notebooks of students regularly.
At GHSS Boys Samba, the Minister directed the Principal to work in convergence with Rural Development Department and complete earth filling of the playground. She took serious note of dilapidated condition of GMS Boys Kehli Mandi and passed directions for its immediate repairs. At GMS Budhwani, she directed school authorities to maintain school ground and resource room properly.
She also interacted with members of Village Education Committee of Govt High School Diani and called for effective monitoring of the local schools by Village Education Committees.
Later, the Minister also visited Samba Fort and stressed on revival of ancient monuments so that these can be made tourism hub benefiting the local population.
The Minister alongwith MLA Samba also inaugurated blacktopping of road work from Sumb to Shamshan Ghat.