SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir’s Minister for Education, Sakeena Itoo, on Tuesday informed the Legislative Assembly that the School Education Department (SED) has received multiple requests for the upgradation of schools in Budgam district. However, she clarified that there are no immediate plans to upgrade these institutions.
Responding to a question raised by Shafi Ahmad Wani, the Minister stated that the department has received demands for upgradation of Middle School Mazahama, Girls Middle School Kanihama, Middle School Rassu, Middle School Charangam, SK Pora, Rathson, and Aripathan.
She explained that the department is currently prioritising the development of infrastructure and ensuring adequate staffing in already upgraded schools, rather than approving new upgradations.
Highlighting a major challenge, the Minister pointed out that the department has been facing an acute shortage of teaching staff due to the freezing of General Line Teacher (GLT) posts by the State Administrative Council (SAC) in 2018. She noted that no recruitments have taken place in the past five years, further affecting the availability of teachers in government schools.
She assured the House that whenever the department plans further school upgradations, the demands from Budgam district would be duly considered.
