SRINAGAR, FEB 24: There has been a remarkable 21% increase in student enrollments in schools across Jammu and Kashmir, rising from 12.40 lakh in 2019-20 to over 15 lakh this year.
This surge is attributed to the UT government’s initiatives to enhance access and quality of education over the past 3 years.
A key focus area has been early childhood care and education, with the J&K government embarking on establishing 15,000 pre-primary schools across the UT. Research shows that proper nutrition and education in the first 5 years build strong foundations for overall growth and development.
A senior education department official said that thrust is also being provided to girls’ education through monetary incentives and the deployment of female teachers. School facilities like attendance systems using facial recognition technology have improved punctuality and discipline among teaching staff.
“Higher education institutes have also witnessed major expansion under the UT administration. 51 new degree colleges were opened since 2019, facilitating increased enrollments. The National Education Policy 2020 was implemented with 4-year undergraduate programs initiated across all colleges. Infrastructure got a boost through centrally sponsored schemes like RUSA, helping 66 colleges receive NAAC accreditation. New IIT and IIM campuses established in Jammu & Kashmir have further expanded quality options for students.”
Centralized e-portals like e-Samarth have been launched for admissions based on CUET scores. In a pioneering initiative, the UT also instituted a feedback portal allowing evaluation of teachers and educational institutions for continual enhancements.
Education experts have lauded the UT’s multi-pronged strategy encompassing policy reforms, infrastructure upgrades, use of technology and feedback systems to bring about substantive improvement across school and college education over the past 3 years. They believe sustaining this focused approach can transform J&K’s education sector over the medium term.
