JAMMU: Presenting the budget, Finance Minister Omar Abdullah outlined a transformative vision for Jammu and Kashmir’s education sector, placing strong emphasis on early childhood education, school infrastructure, and higher education reforms. A key highlight of his speech was the government’s plan to establish Jammu and Kashmir as a leading centre for legal education, alongside broader efforts to enhance research, digitisation, and private sector investment in higher education.
To strengthen the school education system, the government is committed to setting up 15,000 pre-primary schools with a target enrolment of 1.80 lakh children. In a push towards digital learning, 600 ICT Labs, 2,000 Smart Classrooms, and 500 Atal Tinkering Labs are being established to foster innovation and provide students with access to modern educational resources. Under the PM-SHRI scheme, 396 schools across Jammu and Kashmir have been approved for upgradation, improving infrastructure and academic standards. Additionally, efforts to achieve universal education have led to the identification and mainstreaming of 46,000 out-of-school children, with a special focus on girls’ education and teacher discipline.
One of the most ambitious reforms announced in the budget is the J&K K-12: One Campus, One Future initiative. Under this scheme, 40 government higher secondary schools—one boys’ and one girls’ school per district—will be upgraded into integrated K-12 institutions, ensuring seamless education from primary to higher secondary under a single administration. With an initial investment of Rs 180 crore, the project will be implemented over two years, incorporating advanced classrooms, smart learning facilities, vocational training labs, and better sports and sanitation infrastructure. A Special Task Force, supported by district-level committees led by Deputy Commissioners, will oversee the transformation, with performance audits and learning assessments tracking progress.
For higher education, the budget prioritises the full implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, including the introduction of four-year undergraduate programmes in all colleges. Infrastructure and services in Degree Colleges will be enhanced, while polytechnic colleges will receive 600 additional seats to expand technical education opportunities. Omar Abdullah also announced a new policy to attract private investment in higher education, encouraging renowned private universities to set up satellite campuses in Jammu and Kashmir. This move aims to create large-scale education and employment opportunities for the youth.
A major focus of the budget speech was the government’s commitment to elevating Jammu and Kashmir’s legal education system to national prominence. While details of specific reforms were not outlined, Abdullah emphasised that the government would work towards making the region’s legal university one of the top institutions in the country. This aligns with broader efforts to enhance research, improve governance in educational institutions, and position Jammu and Kashmir as a premier destination for higher education.
With these reforms, the Omar Abdullah-led government aims to transform Jammu and Kashmir into an educational hub, equipping students with the skills needed for a competitive future while ensuring access to quality education at all levels.
