Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 16: Reiterating resolve of the Government to ensure quality education to all, Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand said multi pronged approach is being followed to give fillip to the sector in the State.
He said fine tuning education policy, transparent transfer policy, amending education act, improving infrastructure in schools, filling vacant posts and promoting staff are some of the exemplary steps taken up to ensure that education in the State is taken to new heights.
“Immediately after taking up the charge of Education Department I had set a roadmap for achieving goal of quality education. I am happy that in a short span of time major decisions have been taken and soon more would be followed to further the cause of education in the State,” he added.
He said this while addressing an education conference at Khour today. Director, School Education Jammu T.K. Sharma, CEO, ZEOs, Principals, Headmasters, Lecturers and other senior officers from administration attended the conference.
Enlisting initiatives taken up to address the long pending demands of the teaching fraternity, the Deputy Chief Minister said the Cabinet has accepted the demand of nearly sixty thousand ReTs for regularizing stipendiary service of five years and making their service transferable, adding that these two demands would create scope for new ReT pattern employment and ensure that stagnation in service is avoided.
He said the department has ensured that genuine demands of all rank and file are met and in this regard over 22 thousand employees have already been promoted in the recent past. DPC for class IV, promotion of education volunteers and other employees are underway and soon more would get their due, he added.
Underlining provisions to be made for free education in the State, Tara Chand said work on the draft for amending existing Education Act has been referred to Cabinet Sub-Committee and soon every child in the age of four to fourteen years will have a right to free and compulsory education till completion of elementary education.
Highlighting the role of teachers in building foundation of a new society, the Deputy Chief Minister said status of teacher is highest in the society and the profession is considered to be noblest among all, adding that the duty of teacher is pious and the level of commitment needed is also very high.
He said State Education Advisory Board comprising of eminent educationists of the state has been framed for the purpose of formulating education policy keeping in view the unique requirements and topographical constrains of the State. The Board would also look into fine tuning the education curriculum with regard to modern day job market needs, he added.
Stressing on improving transparency and utilizing IT tools for a responsive administration, he said IT tools should be utilized to bring transparency and responsiveness in the Education Department.
He directed for clearance of pendency with regard to regularization, promotions and other administrative activities, so as to ensure time bound disposal of cases in the department, adding that in order to ensure adequate staff in schools provision for academic arrangements would be made.
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