Omar for joint efforts to universalize education

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chairing a meeting at Jammu on Thursday.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chairing a meeting at Jammu on Thursday.

page3Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec  19: Underlining the need for unified efforts by the civil society and the Education Department to realize the target of universalization of elementary and higher education in the State, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah today said that improvement in quality and introduction of moral education as a part of curriculum in the schools is imperative to produce high quality human resource to lead the State and the country in future.
Taking stock of the functioning of ‘Noor Society’, the Governing Body for implementation of RMSA and other educational programmes in the State, the Chief Minister, who is also the Chairman of the Society, asked the Governing Body to address the development of education in a comprehensive and holistic manner underlining it as a national duty of significant consequences.
The Chief Minister said that the upgradation of school infrastructure under RMSA, implementation of Model School Scheme, Girl Hostel Scheme, IEDSS, initiative for SC and ST girls, Vocational Education and ICT being monitored by the ‘Noor Society’ are aimed at imparting quality education and upgrading educational facilities alongwith placing required faculty in place to ensure delivery of the service in a better environment.
Omar Abdullah asked the Education Department to work out strategies with other stakeholders to make RMSA and other flagship programmes a success. He said completion of infrastructure development works and other aspects targeted under these schemes should be made time bound to avoid the financial and other complications caused by unnecessary delays in the implementation of programmes.
The Chief Minister received brief on various issues which included strengthening of existing high schools, drinking water and separate toilet facilities for boys and girls, annual school grants, repair to existing infrastructure, quality interventions, vocational education, ICT, model school, girls hostel, proposal for establishment of separate wing of R&B Division for RMSA interventions, school mapping exercise, service regulations and financial norms, etc.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand, Chief Secretary, Mohammad Iqbal Khandey, Principal Secretary Planning and Development, B. R. Sharma, Principal Secretary Finance, B. B. Vyas, Commissioner Secretary School Education, Commissioner Secretary Higher Education, various other Administrative Secretaries and senior officers.
The Commissioner Secretary Education, Hirdesh Kumar in a PowerPoint presentation gave resume of the achievements registered under RMSA.