SED identifies over 1200 Govt Schools with low student enrolment for merging
SED identifies over 1200 Govt Schools with low student enrolment for merging
Srinagar, Feb 22 : The School Education Department (SED) so far has identified more than 1200 government schools with low student enrolment and is likely to merge them for streamlining the teacher pupil ratio.
Top official in the Jammu and Kashmir administration told Rising Kashmir that the drive of identifying the schools was started in 2021.
The official said, “So far, the School Education Department has identified more than 1200 such government schools that have low enrolment of students.”
“ These schools will likely be merged in accordance to the catchment and feasibility of the students,” the official said.
Earlier, the Principal Secretary, School Education Department B K Singh in a letter issued to Directors of Jammu and Kashmir regions and Project Director of Samagra Shiksha said that the decision of merging of schools with low enrolment was taken in Committee of Secretaries (COS) meeting headed by Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir in December-2021.
In official communiqué, Singh had said, “In the meeting, it was desired by the higher authorities that I am directed that the Directors of Jammu and Kashmir regions and Project Director of Samagra Shiksha to convey them that the expected criteria for proposing the vacating of school buildings due to likely merger of schools with low enrolment.”
Singh said that he was told to seek information regarding all government primary schools with enrolment of less than 10 students.
He also said that the information regarding all the government upper-primary and middle schools with enrolment of less than 30 students shall also be submitted.
“ Besides, the government high schools with enrolment of less than 70 students shall also be submitted.”
Said, “It shall be ensured that the norms and the guidelines of Right to Education Act (RTE) may not be violated.”
