SRINAGAR, MAR 24: Director School Education Kashmir (DSEK), Dr G N Itoo, has termed the National Education Policy (NEP)-2020 as not just a policy but a vision document that will significantly transform the education sector across India, including Jammu and Kashmir.
Dr. Itoo made these remarks while addressing a one-day conference on ‘NEP-2020 and Flexibility in Curriculum and Integration of Vocational Education’ at Boys Higher Secondary School, Ganderbal, where he attended as the chief guest.
In his presidential address, Dr. Itoo stated that the recent budgetary initiatives aimed at making Jammu and Kashmir an ‘Educational Hub’ align with the NEP-2020 framework. He highlighted that under this initiative, 15,000 pre-primary schools (K-Gs) will be developed for early childhood education, targeting an enrollment of 1.8 lakh children, marking a significant shift in the region’s educational landscape.
Discussing advancements in educational technology and digitization, Dr. Itoo announced the establishment of 600 ICT labs, 2,000 smart classrooms, and 52 Tinkering labs. Under the Universal Education initiative, the administration aims to bring 46,000 out-of-school children back into the education system, with special attention to girls’ education.
Emphasizing skill-based learning, he noted that the NEP-2020 will equip students with practical life skills, making them more adaptable to real-world challenges. He further announced that awareness programs will be held in all 374 clusters of Kashmir to educate students and parents on the benefits of the new policy.
Chief Coordinator NEP-2020 at the University of Kashmir, Prof. Mushtaq Ahmed Siddiqui, and Co-ordinator DYD, Prof. Syed Afshana, also addressed the gathering. They underscored the importance of the policy in the modern era and discussed tools and strategies to overcome challenges in its grassroots implementation.
