Riyaz Bhat
Srinagar, Feb 1: In Jammu and Kashmir more than 98 percent of educational institutes sans digital library services—raising a question of limiting students’ access to a wide range of restructured and efficient information.
The total number of schools having less than two percent of digital libraries does not remain confined to government-run-schools only but the majority of the private schools of Jammu and Kashmir also lack the vital services for the students.
Only 373 schools across Jammu and Kashmir were having digital library services available for the students.
The recent official figures reveal that “Among the total 24,296 government and private schools of Jammu and Kashmir, only 373 institutions that amount to 1.53 percent were having the digital libraries.”
It also reveals that in 5452 private schools of Jammu and Kashmir, more than 12 Lakh students and in the case of 18,785 government schools, over 14 Lakh students were enrolled.
The official figures further reveal that among the total schools in Jammu and Kashmir, 26 percent of private and government educational institutions were either lacking libraries, books banks or reading corners.
According to the recent official figures, only 18,000 schools out of 24,296 institutions of Jammu and Kashmir were having libraries, books banks or reading corners.
Pertinently, Jammu and Kashmir earlier used to have a total of 28,805 government and private schools. However, as per the official figures, the count had reduced to 24,279 schools.
An official had said that the count of overall public schools in Jammu and Kashmir reduced because of having zero or extremely low students enrollment. Those schools were merged with the nearby public schools.
The official figures previously had revealed that the primary schools category of public schools was hit badly wherein the count of overall public schools in Jammu and Kashmir reduced by nearly 30 percent. (KNO)
