Srinagar: Union Minister of State for Home, Nityanand Rai on Wednesday informed the Rajya Sabha that since 2019, significant developments have taken place in the education sector of the erstwhile state, with 49 new degree colleges established, IIT Jammu and IIM Jammu functioning, digital classrooms implemented, and the adoption of the ‘School Complex System’ to enhance learning outcomes.
Also, more than 8 lakh students receive the cost of uniforms and over 5.50 lakh students receive free textbooks annually. “Uniform Academic calendar- J&K implemented Uniform academic calendar across the UT, which is justified by the logic that students of the winter zone had to waste six months to seek admission to different courses in the country where academic session, starts from March-April,” the minister said in a written reply.
He said has led to significant rise in the number of teaching days and the academic calendar was brought at par with the rest of the country. “School complex system- J&K has adopted a ‘School Complex System’ with the intent to improve the academic standard in schools. The objective is to utilize the resources at Complex (Cluster level), for maximum output and which shall also enhance the learning outcomes. 746 Complexes are identified and stand notified,” he added.
“Cost of Uniform is provided to more than 8 lakh students through DBT mode every year and free text books are provided to more than 5.50 lakh students every year,” the minster said, adding that samiksha- Performance Feedback of Teachers by Students J&K has developed an App namely SAMIKSHA, for the performance appraisal of the teaching faculty by the students.
About Higher Education, he said that the number of Government degree colleges in the erstwhile state was 96 (including 2 engineering colleges) whereas after 2019, 53 more degree colleges (including 2 engineering colleges) have been sanctioned out of which 49 degree colleges (including 1 engineering college) have been established and made functional.
“IIT Jammu and IIM Jammu started functioning from their own campus. More than 1260 conventional classrooms have been converted into digital classrooms in colleges,” he added.
On vocational education, he said that under the Academia-Industry partnership, TATA Technologies has established two centres for Innovation, Invention, Incubation and Training (CIIIT) at Govt. “Polytechnic Boys, Jammu and Govt. Polytechnic, Baramulla. MoU signed with Ashok Leyland involving two ITIs viz: Budgam & Kathua for upgradation of training facilities in the automobile sector,” the minister said. (KNO)
