Principal Secretary, School Education and Skill Development, Dr. Asgar Hassan Samoon, today laid foundation stone for Girls Hostel besides distributing aids and appliances among the specially abled children during his extensive tour of Kupwara district conducted to review the functioning of School Education Department in the district.
Dr. Samoon was accompanied by Director School Education Kashmir, Mohammad Younis Malik and Deputy Commissioner Kupwara, Anshul Garg.
Principal Secretary laid foundation stone for 100 bedded Girls Hostel at District Institute of Education and Training Centre Kupwara which would be constructed with an estimated cost of Rs.306 lakh.
Meanwhile, he inaugurated an Aids and Appliances distribution camp held under SAMAGRA with distribution of 106 CP Chairs, 155 MSID/MR kit, 62 ankle fort ortho kits, 55 rotators, 34 tricycles, 39 wheel chairs and 8 smart canes among the specially abled children from different zones of the district.
Later, Principal Secretary convened a joint meeting with the Chief Education Officer, Principals, ZEOs and other concerned officers to review the functioning of School Education Department in the district.
The meeting was also attended by Deputy Commissioner Kupwara, Anshul Garg, Director School Education Kashmir, Mohammad Younis Malik and other concerned officers.
He stressed upon the concerned officers to make best efforts with optimum use of technological interventions to ensure that education of students do not suffer during the global pandemic. He directed them to focus on providing online classes to the students besides ensuring community classes are being conducted in remote areas lacking telecommunication services with due adherence to SOPs of COVID-19.
Earlier, Chief Education Officer gave a detailed Power Point Presentation about the overall education scenario of the district.
It was informed that 107038 students are currently enrolled in 1414 schools across the district ranging from Primary to Higher Secondary level which are being operated in 1284 Government buildings and 126 rented buildings. It was also informed that, 49793 students are currently being taught through different modes of communication and 6835 teaching faculty has been involved in providing virtual classes to 11,407 students besides 37273 students are being taught through offline mode and community classes in the district. Besides, about 104231 health cards have been distributed among the school children in various blocks of the district so far.
Regarding the status of Merit Scholarship scheme, it was informed that Rs.46.20 lakh have been provided to 2926 students during the previous year 2019-20 and a target of covering 10758 students have been set for the current year under the scheme. Besides, free supply of text books worth Rs.54 lakh have been provided to 23952 students of first and second standard during the previous year.
Under Mid Day Meal (MDM) scheme, it was informed that Rs.186.13 lakh have been expended so far and 874.88 quintal dry rice has been distributed among 71,036 children both from Primary and Upper Primary classes.
