Jubilant J&K: Vocational Education receiving prime focus of J&K Govt

SRINAGR: Realizing the significance of vocational training in furthering business preferences for students, the Jammu and Kashmir government is laying focused attention on promoting this vital sector at all levels enhancing youth’s technical skills for a specific job.
The administration, as a sequel to bring about qualitative enhancement at all levels of education in the Union Territory, established State Council of Education Research and Training (SCERT) by merging existing State Institutes of Education (SIE) and District Institutes of Education and Training (DIET).
The move was aimed at to mainstream teacher education and curriculum reforms besides providing academic research, extension and training support in the field of school education throughout the UT.
According to official details, Skill Hub Initiative has also been implemented in 40 schools for out of school youth under Vocational Education. Vocational Education is being imparted in 714 Secondary and Senior Secondary Schools in 14 different trades across the UT. Besides, with inauguration of 626 Vocational labs by Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, the total number of this vital facility in J&K has reached to 850. The government is extending vocational education to 70000 students from 9th to 12th every year with most of them getting employment in their relevant fields.
As a part of National Education Policy (NEP), all the students of 6th to 8th have been mapped with vocational institutes to impart the basic skills of vocational education.
As part of NIPUN BHARAT MISSION, teaching learning material in the form of workbooks, worksheets and flash cards was provided to 522226 students of class I to V besides giving away resource material to 40318 primary teachers at a cost of Rs. 13.66 crore. Also, Rs. 4.03 crore were provided to DIETs to conduct training on FLN (Foundational Literacy and Numeracy) to make teachers abreast with new techniques of teaching.
Besides, 100 days reading campaign was conducted successfully in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir where more than 4 lakh students participated.
To take care of basic needs of schools ensuring that learning is not affected, Rs 45.94 crore were provided to 22250 schools as Composite School Grant varying from Rs 10000 to Rs 100000 per school, of which, Rs. 4.60 crore were spent on SWACHHTA activities in schools. Similarly, payment of Rs 47.29 crore was made through DBT into accounts of 788247 students of class I to VIII as cost of two stitched uniforms @ Rs 600 per student.
“Schools with high enrolment shall be developed as Smart Schools in the coming years, which shall be saturated with all the basic facilities, official informed. He added that there shall be no Gap in the Infrastructure and Sports facilities and teachers shall be imparted special trainings to enhance their academic standards.
To channelize youth energy, hone their personality and prepare them for future challenges, youth clubs are being formed in every panchayat of the UT with at least 5 members.
Similarly, sports and physical education grants of Rs 19.67 crore were provided to schools through district officers for procurement of sports equipment for the schools @ Rs 5000 for Primary Schools, Rs 10000 for UPS, and Rs 25000 for HS and HSS in 2021-22.
Under Right to Education, free text books of Rs 19.30 crore were provided to 550000 students of class III to VIII through Jammu and Kashmir State Board of School Education.