SRINAGAR: Union Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL), Sanjay Kumar, on Tuesday called for reconsidering the conduct of Class 11 board examinations in Jammu and Kashmir, suggesting that the exercise be done away with.
Chairing a review meeting at SKICC Srinagar, Kumar directed the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) to re-examine the necessity of holding Class 11 board exams. He emphasised that such measures should not become hurdles in ensuring smooth learning outcomes for students.
During the meeting, the Union Secretary also highlighted the need for quality education across all government schools, urging vocational and skill-based learning to be made part of the curriculum. He expressed concern over dropout rates and instructed officials to ensure that no student leaves school before completing Class 12.
Kumar further stressed on sustainable infrastructure upgrades, robust pre-primary education, and large-scale enrolment in kindergarten classes. He also called for coordinated efforts by stakeholders to address gaps in teacher training, human resource management, and mainstreaming out-of-school children.
The review was attended by senior officials, including Jammu and Kashmir School Education Secretary Ram Niwas Sharma, Director General School Education Kashmir GN Itoo, Director School Education Jammu Dr Naseem Choudhary, and heads of JKBOSE, SCERT, Samagra Shiksha, besides officers from the Centre.
Other deliberations included the proposal for a Regional Office of CBSE in Jammu and Kashmir, adoption of NEP-2020 curriculum across classes, capacity building of teachers, assessments, and strengthening of digital interventions such as DIKSHA, VSK, and PM e-VIDYA.
The Union Secretary also reviewed progress under Samagra Shiksha, PM SHRI, PARAKH, and functioning of DIET and ITEP institutions. He directed that government schools be made prime centres of learning to match the standards of private institutions.
