New Delhi Feb 10: Today, meeting of Project Approval Board constituted for the Plan approvals of the Samagra Shiksha, at National level met under the chairmanship of Sanjay Kumar, Secretary to Govt. DoSEL, MoE, GoI (Chairman of the PAB) at New Delhi, for reviewing the progress of Samagra Shiksha 2023-24 and Approval of budget for the financial year 2024-25.
The meeting of PAB Samagra Shiksha, held at New Delhi and attended by the Administrative Secretary, School Education Department Dr. Piyush Singla, along with Addl. Secy, Vipin Kumar, (Economic Advisor), Mrs. A. Srija Joint Secretary, Dr. Preeti Mania, JS Director Finance, MoE Mr. Shobit, team of MoE and officers from J&K administration Viz a Viz, Project Director Samagra Shiksha Deep Raj, Director Planning Parshotam Kumar, Deputy Director Planning Bilal Rashid, besides other Coordinators/stakeholders.
During the meeting, Secretary to Govt. DoSEL, emphasized on the improvement of basic indicators and asked for adopting a consolidated approach in providing Quality Education to the Children. He asked the UT, to expedite the pending approved projects, so that further flow of funds can be made easy. He asked to bridge the Infrastructure gaps, at various levels, so that the Quality education can be ensured at all levels. While interacting with the Media, Adm. Secy SED Dr Singla informed that, UT has improved the Basic Indicators of School Education in the last 2-3 years and for the year 2024-25, it is the largest budget which has been recommended/approved in the PAB for various interventions since 2018-19.
He further said that, “Funds allocated for UT will accelerate the implementation of NEP 2020, bringing further dividends to the students to make them employable and strengthen our efforts in making UT of JK a knowledge-hub and knowledge based Economy,” he said. The flagship scheme aims at ensuring inclusive and quality education at elementary and secondary levels and is funded jointly by the central and state governments on a 90:10 sharing basis.
Dr. Singla said that, the New education policy,2020 lays a greater focus on skilling the youth of the country and linking education with industry and professional spheres, so as to enable students to be ready for future challenges and opportunities. It is for the first time, that 554 Schools have been approves under Vocational Education at one stretch , with minimum 02 trades in each School, he maintained. The Main share of the total Allocation has been dedicated to the Quality Interventions, followed by the Access to retention, for taking new initiatives for the future of Students of J&K UT.
For the financial year 2024-25, the Centre has approved a tentative outlay, of 1665 Crores, for elementary, secondary, and Teacher education. The allocation approved for elementary Education is Rs. 1165 Crores, for secondary it is Rs. 487 Crores, followed by the Teacher Education Rs. 13.19 crores.
Dr. Singla said that, with the implementation of the approved interventions, a Conducive environment for the students, to enhance their learning outcomes under a robust education system, shall be ensured.
*Main Highlights of Budget 2024-25*
142 Crore out of approved allocation will be utilized for construction of New Buildings and strengthening of the existing buildings. The funds shall be utilized to overcome the infrastructure gaps in schools. 380 works (Major/Minor) under Secondary Education and 966 works under Elementary Education will be taken up during the year 2024-25. It includes Construction of Additional Classrooms, Art and Craftroom, Headmaster Room, Boundary Walls , Computer labs, Resource Rooms, Vocational Rooms etc.
Some key activities under ‘Quality Interventions’ component include assessment of learning levels, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and digital initiatives, Learning Enhancement Programmes (LEP), strengthening of libraries, and support for pre-nursery level gets highest allocation of the recommended Budget. More than, 2000 Smart Class rooms, 600 ICT labs shall be established in various Schools across the UT. Virtual Reality Labs, Science Centres, Astro Physics Labs, English Language Labs shall be established under UT Innovations.
Under Teacher Education Strengthening of physical infrastructure in DIETs, training of Teacher educators, Programme & activities including faculty development and Annual grants for TEl have been approved for the year 2024-25 to the tune of Rs.13 crores.
Thе mееting concludеd with a votе of thanks to thе chair, rеflеcting thе commitmеnt to advancing еducation and еnsuring a brightеr futurе for thе studеnts of the Union Tеrritory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Chief Accounts officer, Abhishek Talwaria, State Coordinator Prem Nath, Ajeet Sharma, Ashwani Kumar, were among other, who attended the Meeting at New Delhi. (CNI) Current News of India
