Authorities in Baramulla gear up for enrolment drives ahead of opening of schools

Baramulla, Feb 13: As the schools across Kashmir are set to open post three-month long winter vacations, the district education authorities in Baramulla are ready for a new enrollment drive to enhance the roll in the government run academic institutions.

As per the circular issued by the Chief Education Officer (CEO) Baramulla, all the school heads have been instructed to conduct extensive enrollment drives across their catchment areas, involving all staff members and stakeholders.

The focus is on admitting new students from kindergarten to 8th class and to maintain a proper record of the new admissions.

As earlier reported by this newspaper, the government has directed the teaching staff of schools to report back to their respective schools on February 21 to remain available for making arrangements regarding preparation of ensuing examinations while the formal class work will commence from March 1.

Meanwhile, the CEO Baramulla has asked the teaching staff to remain available for preparing upcoming examinations and implementing new classifications. The circular emphasizes various steps to streamline academic work during the 2024-25 academic year.

As per circular instructions, various steps have been taken to streamline the academic work in schools during the academic year 2024-25.

The heads of the institutions have been asked to celebrate week-long activities from February 21 to make school premises clean and green while a cleanliness drive under Swachhta Pakhwada campaign shall be conducted in all the educational institutions of the district.

“This shall be done by adopting environment friendly practices to promote sustainability and eco-friendly environment within the school campus. This activity should be conducted with full support of the staff members and in collaboration with the department of Municipal Committees and Councils to make the campaign more effective,” the circular reads.

The activities shall include cleaning the school campus, plantation drive, face lifting, minor repairs, painting of main gate and walls wherever needed may be done, it reads.

The heads of the schools have been asked to take necessary measures to ensure availability of facilities like drinking water, electricity, toilets and ramps in the schools.

Notably, this newspaper has already reported about the dearth of ramps for children with special needs in government schools. Also, as per the official statistics, 3374 government schools are without boys toilets across Jammu and Kashmir while 2983 schools are without girls toilets and 734 schools are without drinking water facilities. Also 6067 schools across J&K are without electricity facilities.

Meanwhile, the heads of the schools in Baramulla have been asked to ensure that colorful events are organised on March 1 as welcome day so that the students feel comfortable after joining the school following a long winter break.

“The heads of the schools will provide all requisite logistic support for ensuring transparency and smooth conduct of the upcoming JK Board examination. They shall also ensure that the examination rooms are properly maintained and window panes are fixed,” the circular reads.

The heads of the institution have been asked to ensure that the doors of the classrooms are covered with curtains to maintain the room temperature.

As per the circular instructions, schools shall ensure the smooth conduct of the examination and assessment of students in elementary classes as per the school assessment framework of J&K SCERT.

The schools have been asked to prepare a vision document which will include curricular and co-curricular activities and the document will act as an institutional plan for the whole academic year.

“The plan for each institution should be prepared by March 1 and should be notified in each school from Primary to Secondary level,” the circular reads.