Excelsior Correspondent
LEH, Jan 2: Chief Secretary of Ladakh, Ashish Kundra, today chaired a review meeting of the School Education, Higher Education, Technical Education and Skill Development Departments to assess progress, challenges and future roadmaps for strengthening the education and skill ecosystem in the UT.
During the meeting, Bhanu Prabha, Secretary, School Education Department, made a detailed presentation outlining the overall status of education in Ladakh. She also highlighted key initiatives undertaken by the department, along with the approved budgets and expenditures under Samagra Shiksha, PM SHRI, and PM POSHAN schemes.
The discussion on higher education focused on the implementation of Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA), MoUs with IITs to enhance higher education opportunities, the role of Sindhu Central University and critical issues requiring attention for strengthening the sector.
The Technical Education and Skill Development Department provided an overview of its mandate, ongoing short-term training programmes, and initiatives such as “Enterprising Ladakh” aimed at promoting employability and entrepreneurship among youth.
She informed that the UT had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII) last year, which has already shown encouraging results with the progress of nearly 150 startups.
The Chief Secretary laid strong emphasis on developing end-to-end entrepreneurship models in Ladakh. He directed that the pashmina trade be taken up in project mode, involving local entrepreneurs to maximize economic benefits for the region. He instructed the departments to ensure registration with Startup India and organize a large-scale startup conclave to promote innovation and enterprise.
Stressing the importance of future-ready skills, he called for the introduction of advanced skill courses by engaging experts from outside, including focused training in artificial intelligence. He also highlighted the need for specialized trainings relevant to Ladakh’s unique context, such as high-altitude skill development and hotel management.
To improve classroom practices and learning outcomes, he suggested organizing district-wise teachers’ conferences. Emphasizing accountability and ground-level monitoring, Kundra instructed that Tehsildars, SDMs and other officers must mandatorily inspect remote schools to review their conditions.
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