Sakeena Itoo Reviews Performance of School Education Department in Kashmir Division
SRINAGAR: Minister for Education, Social Welfare, Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo today chaired a comprehensive review meeting at the Civil Secretariat to assess the overall performance and functioning of the School Education Department (SED) across the Kashmir Division.
The meeting was attended by Director School Education Kashmir, Naseer Ahmad Wani, Joint Directors of SED, Chief Education Officers (CEOs) of all districts, and other senior officers of the department.
During the meeting, the Minister conducted a detailed review of key operational areas including academic performance, infrastructure development, teacher deployment, and timely distribution of textbooks and learning materials. She also discussed issues related to the unregulated sale of school textbooks by private schools through agencies at exorbitant rates.
Emphasizing the need for timely delivery of learning materials, Sakeena Itoo said, “Ensuring the availability of textbooks and supplies before the start of the academic session is crucial for maintaining the academic calendar and preventing disruptions in learning.”
She directed officials to streamline the textbook distribution process through better coordination between divisional and district education offices, stressing the importance of transparency and accountability at every stage.
Taking a serious note of the unregulated sale of textbooks, the Minister issued strict instructions to CEOs to monitor private schools and bookshops, conduct routine checks, and take stringent action against those found overcharging. She further directed the Director School Education to issue a comprehensive order specifying the prescribed curriculum and textbooks, ensuring strict compliance at the district level.
The Minister also reviewed the status of GP fund processing, directing CEOs to submit detailed reports on the cases submitted and pending.
Regarding coaching centres, she instructed CEOs to conduct regular inspections to ensure compliance with safety and registration norms, and to take action against unregistered institutes.
Highlighting the crucial role of teachers in shaping young minds, Sakeena Itoo called for regular training and capacity-building programmes to enhance teaching standards. She also stressed on strengthening monitoring mechanisms to ensure punctuality, performance, and effective classroom engagement.
The Minister urged the department to resolve all pending administrative and academic issues in a time-bound manner, reaffirming the government’s commitment to improving the quality of education and creating a supportive learning environment for both students and teachers.
During the meeting, the Director School Education Kashmir and various CEOs briefed the Minister on the academic progress, infrastructure development, and other ongoing initiatives across the division.
