SRINAGAR: The Kupwara Assembly constituency has 206 government schools from the primary to higher secondary level, with a combined enrolment of 20,591 students and an overall pupil-teacher ratio of 1:20, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has informed the Legislative Assembly.
The figures were provided in reply to Starred D. No. 1/6/258 tabled by MLA Mir Mohammad Fayaz.
Of the total schools, 102 are primary schools with 5,285 students and a pupil-teacher ratio of 1:22. Another 85 are middle schools, accounting for 8,478 students with a ratio of 1:16.
The constituency has six high schools with 3,386 students and a pupil-teacher ratio of 1:25, while 13 higher secondary schools have 3,442 students and a ratio of 1:29.
The department said 252 teacher posts are sanctioned in these schools, of which 204 are currently in position, leaving 48 vacant posts. It added that all vacant teacher posts are being utilised for supernumerary posts of Rehbar-e-Taleem teachers.
For masters, 74 posts are sanctioned and 43 are in position, leaving 31 vacancies.
The lecturer cadre has 77 sanctioned posts against 33 in position, leaving 44 vacancies. The subject-wise figures cover disciplines including Arabic, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Botany, Chemistry, Commerce, Economics, Education, Environmental Science, English, Hindi, History, Kashmiri, Mathematics, Persian, Physics, Political Science, Sociology, Statistics, Urdu and Zoology.
On school infrastructure, the government said 200 of the 206 institutions operate from government-owned buildings. Two schools function from rented premises, while four government schools are housed in rent-free buildings.
The department said the latest physical assessment of the buildings, covering classrooms, toilets, drinking water, electricity, laboratories, libraries, ICT and smart classrooms, playgrounds and boundary walls, has been provided separately in Annexure B.
Regarding expansion of the school network, the government said the School Education Department is considering a proposal to upgrade high schools, particularly those in rural and far-flung areas, to higher secondary level. It said such schools would become K-12 institutions.
However, there is currently no immediate proposal to upgrade primary schools to middle schools or middle schools to high schools in the constituency.
The government said demands for such upgrades would be considered in phases, subject to budgetary availability and applicable norms.
On infrastructure deficiencies, the department said gaps are identified through the Samagra Shiksha scheme using UDISE+ data, after which works are prioritised and implemented in phases.
The assessment covers additional classrooms, building-less schools, dilapidated buildings, boundary walls, boys’ and girls’ toilets, facilities for children with special needs, school strengthening, major repairs and resource rooms, subject to land availability and student enrolment.
The government’s approved Samagra Shiksha action plan for the Kupwara constituency includes 122 works, with work-wise details of their physical and financial status contained in Annexure C.
