Govt to review academic calendar for Kashmir: Sakina

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Oct 21: Minister for Education, Social Welfare, Health and Medical Education, Sakina Itoo, stated today that the academic calendar will be reviewed, and a decision will be taken based on public feedback.

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Speaking to media persons after attending the inaugural event of the two-day J&K Science Congress 2024, Sakina acknowledged the challenges ahead but expressed confidence that things would be set right.

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The Minister also noted that there has been considerable improvement in the education sector in J&K over the years; however, she emphasized that there is still room for further progress.
“Let me first review the department, and then we can address the academic calendar. We will present this issue to the public and, based on feedback-particularly from parents-take a decision for the next academic year,” she said.
While describing her new assignment as “challenging,” the Minister noted that the system lacked uniformity over the past decade, leading to various difficulties.
“This is a challenging role, whether in Education, Social Welfare, or Health & Medical Education. The system has not been consistent in recent years, and there are issues to address. However, we are hopeful that by working sincerely, we can resolve them,” she added.
Addressing the issue of fake universities offering admissions, which has become a growing concern, Sakina said, “This matter had come to my attention earlier as well. We will examine it and take the necessary measures.”
Earlier, while speaking at the inaugural session at the Government College for Women, M.A. Road, the Minister reaffirmed the Omar Abdullah-led Government’s commitment to supporting Departments like Higher Education and Science and Technology.
“We will leave no stone unturned, but the initiative must come from the departments,” she remarked.
Sakina highlighted the pivotal role of Science and Technology in revolutionizing every aspect of life, emphasizing the need to harness its potential to improve the lives of common people.
“Scientific innovations are breaking barriers and opening new possibilities. We must leverage this potential to benefit society,” she said.
The Minister also stressed the importance of taking research to the grassroots level so that people can reap the benefits of technological innovations.
She cited agriculture and industry as key sectors requiring greater collaboration between academia and industry.
“While the education sector has improved significantly over the years, there remains substantial room for progress in the UT,” she said.