Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 22: Secretary, School Education Department, Farooq Ahmad Shah, today called upon all Chief Education Officers (CEOs) in the State to carry out safety audit of old school buildings so that these are phased out in a time-bound manner.
He also issued directions for completion of fixed targets under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), the Central Flagship Scheme.
The Secretary School Education passed these directions while chairing a review meeting of the CEOs of Jammu Division, here today.
State Project Director, SSA, Abdul Rashid War, Joint Director (Planning), Javed Iqbal Mattoo and Joint Director (Education), Jammu, Charandeep Singh, were also present in the occasion.
Emphasizing upon ensuring safety of school-going children, Secretary School Education said the department will work out a mechanism to demolish all such buildings which are declared unsafe after the safety audit, adding that the department has already initiated the process of laying new and upgrading existing infrastructure with all added paraphernalia so that an enabling environment is in place while imparting education to our children, who are the nation builders of tomorrow.
Asking the CEOs to prioritize field visits and personally monitor ongoing infrastructural works in their respective jurisdictions, Farooq Shah laid stress on effective interventions under the flagship schemes like SSA and RMSA so that the State is able to achieve the benchmark indicators fixed by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD).
Stressing upon inclusive education, Farooq Shah asked the CEOs to make adequate provisions for admitting children with special needs in Government Schools so that they also get an equally enabling environment in educational institutions in the State and grow up with other children. He also tasked the CEOs to identify around 50 kanals of land in each uncovered district for setting up Jawahar Navodalayas, with facilities of boarding and lodging.
While discussing the issue of up-gradation of schools, Secretary School Education asked CEOs to submit comprehensive proposals to the Directorate of School Education, strictly on the basis of prescribed feasibility.
Responding to the issue raised on the textbooks to be provided by JK BOSE, Secretary School Education urged the CEOs to organize Village Book Melas where these textbooks received from JK BOSE will be distributed amongst school-going children free of cost. He also emphasized upon fast-tracking zone-wise procurement of uniforms for which the ZEOs will submit proposals with their respective CEOs.
In order to facilitate students in rural areas that fall in winter zone of Jammu Division, Secretary School Education issued directions for keeping at least 10 schools open during winter vacation so that remedial classes for interested students are undertaken. He, however, added that this facility for students will be optional.
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