Lays stress on Development of Smart Schools for increasing enrollment
Jammu, April 21: Principal Secretary, School Education Department (SED), B.K Singh today chaired a meeting to review the progress on Plan Formulation under SAMAGRA SHIKSHA, for the year 2022-23 at Civil Secretariat here.
The meeting was attended by the Director Samagra Shiksha, Deep Raj; Director School Education Jammu, Ravi Shanker Sharma; Director School Education Kashmir, Tassaduq Hussain; CEOs, all State Coordinators and Assistant Coordinators of Samagra and other concerned officials of the department.
While reviewing the Plan, the Principal Secretary held a detailed interaction with all CEOs. He appreciated the efforts made by the CEOs in prioritizing the works and asked them to further improve, where there is scope. He said that, this year building less Schools shall be given priority and accordingly 57 Buildings shall be taken up for construction this year, besides 43 Dilapidated Structures (Building Blocks) shall be considered for construction this year. He emphasized on saturation of Schools in terms of facilities so that every Student feel himself/herself at par with the Private Schools.
The Principal Secretary further emphasized that SAMAGRA is an Integrated Scheme of School Education, which envisages the ‘school’ as a continuum from pre-school, primary, upper primary, secondary to Senior Secondary levels with the vision to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education from pre-school to senior secondary stage. He said that this years Plan shall be different with respect to preceding year’s plan.
The Principal Secretary laid stress on development of Smart Schools where 100 % saturation shall be achieved in terms of facilities like Class rooms, Library, ICT lab, Smart Class Room, Kitchen, Separate Toilets for Girls and Boys, Drinking water Facility, Sports Facilities like Volleyball Court/Basket ball Court etc for increasing enrollment. He added that the Public perception shall be changed and a revolution shall be seen in the Educational system.
The Principal Secretary further reiterated that the aim is to provide quality education to talented children through setting up of Smart Schools as benchmark of excellence. He highlighted that the UT administration has already sanctioned 34 Model Schools under SAMAGRA Shiksha with approved cost of Rs. 76 Crores, which are at different stages of execution & spread over all the Districts of UT.
The Principal Secretary directed all the CEOs to monitor the Physical progress of the School buildings and other schemes being implemented in their respective districts on regular basis. He asked them to take steps for upgrading the academic standards and skills of the teaching staff by organising special workshops and trainings. He also stressed upon the completion and operationalization of KGBVs and Girls Hostels at the earliest.
The Principal Secretary appreciated Samagra Shiksha for landmark strides so far by effectively implementing all schemes and projects envisaging a notable improvement in the existing curriculum besides embarking upon various innovative new projects and works.
During the Meeting, State Project Director Samagra Shiksha, apprised the Principal Secretary regarding previous year plan and expenditure incurred. He also presented Power Point Presentation regarding Plan proposals in respect of 2022-23.
He informed the meeting that Rs. 1117 Crores were approved under Samagra, for different interventions in 2021-22 by which around 356 works of different types have been completed. He also informed that 29 Girls Hostels and 59 KGBV’s buildings have been completed so far and many of these Institutes have been inaugurated by the Lieutenant Governor recently.
