Education foundation of progressive society: Sakeena Itoo

Jammu, Nov 3: Minister for Education, Sakeena Itoo Monday chaired a meeting at Civil Secretariat here to review the performance and functioning of School Education department across Jammu division.
The meeting was attended by Secretary School Education department, Ram Niwas Sharma; Project Director Samagra Shiksha, Bhawani Rakwal; Director School Education Jammu, Naseem Javid Chowdhary; Chief Education Officers of all districts of Jammu and other concerned officers of School Education department.
During the meeting, the Minister assessed the progress of various centrally sponsored schemes, infrastructure development projects, academic reforms, and digital learning initiatives aimed at improving the quality of education across government schools.
During the meeting, the Minister emphasized on the efficient and transparent utilisation of public funds to strengthen the education ecosystem. She stressed that every rupee allocated for education sector must be spent judiciously and with measurable outcomes.
She directed officers to ensure timely completion of ongoing projects, particularly those related to school infrastructure, ICT labs, teacher training, and learning enhancement programmes. She asked them to address bottlenecks on priority and submit regular progress reports to the department.
The Minister called for the adoption of transparent monitoring mechanisms and periodic audits to prevent fund lapses and ensure that benefits reach the grassroots level. She further instructed officers to strengthen community participation through School Management committees and promote accountability at every administrative tier.
Highlighting the government’s focus on inclusive and equitable education, the Minister also underscored the importance of bridging learning gaps, enhancing the teaching-learning process, and improving student learning outcomes, particularly in rural and far-flung areas.
Reiterating the Government’s commitment to transforming the education sector, the Minister assured that the government would continue to support initiatives that empower teachers, modernize classrooms, and create a robust learning environment for all students.
“Education is the foundation of any progressive society. Transparent utilisation of funds and effective monitoring of schemes will ensure schools becoming centres of excellence,” the Minister stated.
While reviewing other aspects of the department, the Minister strictly instructed the CEOs that school children shouldn’t be sent to Government functions, particularly during peak academic and examination session, without prior approval and permission of respective Directors.
The Education Minister further asked the CEOs to take reviews in their respective districts from the Assembly Constituency level and prepare all data accordingly so that the MLAs are provided timely information. She also asked them to take MLAs on board while initiating any new developmental projects in their respective districts.