MoE pushes J&K SED for project completion by fiscal year-end

Srinagar, May 19: The Ministry of Education (MoE) has asked the J&K School Education Department (SED) to complete all the ongoing projects in the department by the end of the current financial year.

As per the official document, the Secretary Department of School Education and Literacy (DSEL) has asked the SED to ensure that the in-progress works are completed on priority in this financial year.

The MoE has also observed that there has been a pendency in infrastructure facilities since the inception of the centrally-sponsored scheme like the erstwhile SSA and the in-vogue Samagra Shiksha and asked the SED to come up with a concrete plan for action.

“The J&K Education Department should come up with a concrete plan of action for completing the not started works within the time frame or for surrendering the not started work,” the official document reads.

The SED has faced a roadblock in the completion of the ongoing projects or execution of the new projects after the engineering wing allotted to Samagra Shiksha J&K was withdrawn by the government in August 2023.

“The move created hurdles to complete the construction of the projects and complete the target set for completion of the projects,” an official said.

Meanwhile, after considering the works plan for the current financial year and the requirement of basic facilities in the schools, the DSEL has approved several projects to strengthen the existing infrastructure in the government schools across J&K.

As per the official documents, 90 government schools have been approved to take up major repairs of the buildings to strengthen the existing infrastructure while 26 elementary-level schools have got approval for the construction of toilets for Children with Special Needs (CWSN) enrolled in schools.

The Ministry of Education (MoE) has also approved the construction of Resource rooms in 94 elementary-level schools while the 194 elementary-level schools have got approval for the construction of boundary walls around the school premises to ensure safety and privacy inside the school campuses.

In a major boost to the existing schools, the MoE has also approved the construction of additional classrooms in 346 schools to ensure adequate classroom facilities are available for the students in schools.

As per the official documents, the Union Ministry of Education has also approved the construction of girls’ toilets in 70 schools and 115 toilets in schools for boys.

Besides approving various projects to strengthen the government schools and ensure the availability of basic facilities for the students, the MoE has raised concerns over vacancies in the District Institute of Education and Training (DIETs).

“There are 219 (54.07 percent) vacancies of academic positions against the sanctioned posts in DIET and 62 (38.99 percent) in SCERT. Considering the important role of these institutions in empowering teachers, the vacant positions of the DIETs may be filled on priority,” the official document reads.

The MoE has said that the release of funds under the DIET of Excellence scheme would be contingent upon the filling up of existing vacancies by June 30, 2024.