Farooq tantary cni
Srinagar, cni: District Institute of Education and Trainings (DIET) Srinagar, in collaboration with the Chief
Education Office Srinagar, organised a one-day Orientation Programme on PARAKH on 1st
January 2026 at the Auditorium, SCERT Srinagar.
The primary objective of the programme was to disseminate the findings of the PARAKH
2024 assessment among stakeholders, analyse learning outcomes, identify critical
intervention areas, and formulate strategies to address challenges in achieving desired
competencies.
The programme was graced by the presence of Director School Education Kashmir, Mr.
Naseer Ahmad Wani, as the Chief Guest. The Guests of Honour included Prof. Tasleema Jan,
Dean, Department of Education, University of Kashmir; Prof. Seema Naaz, Principal, College
of Education Srinagar; Dr. Arif, Deputy Director Academics, JKBOSE; and Mr. Nazrul Islam,
President, JK Private School Association Srinagar.
At the outset, Mr. Naseer Ahmad Wani, Director School Education, Kashmir (DSEK),
highlighted the importance of PARAKH as a diagnostic rather than judgmental assessment
tool. He emphasised that collaboration among all stakeholders is key to improving learning
outcomes and reviewed concrete action points for cluster heads, ZEOs, principals,
headmasters and representatives of private schools. He underlined that a foundation-level
study in March would be conducted to systematically prepare learners for upcoming
assessments
Mr. Ghulam Mohi U Din Bhat, Principal DIET Srinagar and Chief Education Officer Srinagar,
formally welcomed the dignitaries and participants. In his welcome address, he emphasized
that the PARAKH results provide valuable insights into various dimensions of the teachinglearning process, which require focused attention and collective action from all stakeholders.
He stated that classrooms must prioritise critical thinking, innovation, entrepreneurship,
green skills, digital literacy and social-emotional learning. The Keynote Address was delivered by Dr. Fayaz Ahmad Bhat, Programme Coordinator,
who highlighted that the PARAKH assessment offers critical insights for revisiting and
updating pedagogical practices to align district performance with national benchmarks.
Ms. Anjum Raja, Deputy CEO Srinagar and District Nodal Officer (DNO) PARAKH,
presented a detailed analysis of PARAKH 2024 results, covering performance comparisons
across the Foundational, Preparatory, and Middle Stages. She stressed the importance of
integrating PARAKH data into annual educational planning and stated that through strategic
planning, collaborative implementation, and systematic monitoring, District Srinagar is wellpositioned to achieve the vision of NEP 2020 for equitable and competency-based education.
The eminent speakers collectively reflected on the rapidly evolving educational landscape,
emphasizing that rote learning and classroom-confined teaching have failed to bridge
learning gaps. They advocated for activity-based and experiential learning as the need of the
hour to achieve meaningful learning outcomes. The speakers underscored the transition from
formal examinations to formative assessments to identify and nurture student talents
effectively. They further highlighted that teachers must adopt dynamic pedagogical
approaches and function as mentors to maximize the impact of the teaching-learning process.

The second session featured an engaging brainstorming panel discussion, chaired by Prof.
Tasleema Jan. The panel comprised Prof. Seema Naaz, Dr. Arif, Ms. Anjum Raja, Dr. Arif Jan,
Mr. Gh. Hassan Reshi (SCERT), Mr. Sheikh Gulzar Ahmad (SCERT), and Mr. Nazrul Islam.
The panellists deliberated on PARAKH as a landmark reform in India’s assessment system,
highlighting how PARAKH insights can be effectively leveraged for mentoring, Continuous
Professional Development (CPD) planning, and strengthening both pre-service and in-service
teacher education.
The programme concluded with a collective resolve among all stakeholders to move beyond
traditional pedagogical practices and adopt innovative, learner-centric approaches aligned
with NEP 2020, using PARAKH insights as a catalyst for sustained improvement in learning
outcomes across Jammu & Kashmir.
In the vote of thanks, Ms. Tanveera Jan, HOD, DIET Srinagar, expressed her heartfelt
gratitude to the worthy Director School Education Kashmir, distinguished guests, and
participants for their gracious presence, which made the event both successful and
memorable. She also extended sincere thanks to the Principal DIET Srinagar and Chief
Education Officer Srinagar for their constant support and guidance. Special appreciation was
conveyed to all DIET faculty members, SCERT faculty members, SCERT technical staff, and
participants whose cooperation and commitment ensured the smooth and successful conduct
of the programme. Cni