Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 9: Stressing the need for reviving extra-curricular activities in schools to encourage hands-on learning, Minister for Education, Naeem Akhter today said the initiatives taken by the present Government have started bearing fruit and tangible results would be seen on the ground soon.
This was stated by the Minister during extensive tour of various educational institutions here today. Director School Education Jammu, Simrandeep Singh, Chief Education Officer Jammu, N K Sudan and other officers accompanied the Minster.
The schools which were inspected by the Minister include Government Middle School Langer Gandhi Nagar, Government Middle School Dodhi Gujjar Colony in zone Purmandal, Government Higher Secondary School Sunjawan and Shri Ranbir Memorial Higher Secondary School.
During the inspection, the Minister interacted with the teachers and students and stressed upon the teachers to ensure that live demonstrations and field visits are arranged for children to make learning interesting and joyful. He stressed for teaching the students in the language that is easily comprehensible.
Director Education informed the Minister that laptops will be provided to the teachers for giving live demonstration on various topics. During inspection of Government Middle School Dodhi Gujjar Colony, the Minister inaugurated the Pre-Primary section and appreciated the efforts of the management for making the classroom attractive for the kids.
He stressed for taking steps to increase enrolment in the Government Schools and asked Director School Education to take necessary steps for providing special coaching to bright and outstanding students so that they can successfully qualify various competitive examinations.
The Minister also visited Ranbir Memorial HSS and asked Director School Education to provide Braille enabled laptops for blind students.
Later, the Minister chaired a review meeting of Chief Education Officers of Jammu division.
Minister of State for Education, Priya Sethi was also present on the occasion. Commissioner Secretary School Education Shaleen Kabra, Director School Education Jammu Simrandeep Singh and Director SSA also attended the meeting.
The CEOs were directed to rationalize the teaching staff in the schools of their respective districts. It was directed that SSA schools with zero enrolment should be closed and staff from these schools be deployed in the nearby SSA schools.
CEOs were also directed to prepare a database of the staff at the divisional and district level within one month. He asked the concerned officers to stress on community participation for improving educational scenario in the schools.
The Minister said that efforts should be made to start extra classes for weaker students in the schools for which the services of the surplus staff could be utilized.
Stressing for providing special care and coaching to the bright students the Minister said that academic audit of schools should be conducted by Principal Higher Secondary Schools in all the catchment schools of an area. The Minister while underscoring the importance of co-curricular activities in schools said that these should be made an important part of academic activity.
The Minister also directed the Zonal Education Officers and Chief Education Officers to conduct inspection of schools intensively. Besides the Minister also directed for organizing special orientation programmes for newly recruited teachers.
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