Jammu: Literacy rate in Jammu and Kashmir
has increased up to 65.67 per cent, a minister said here
on Friday.
The literacy rate in the state in 2001 was only 55 per
cent. A latest survey has indicated that it has increased up
to 65.67 per cent, Education minister Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed
told the state assembly.
The number of school dropouts has also reduced from 3.67
lakh to 0.39 lakh due to opening and upgrade of primary
schools, establishment of education guarantee scheme (EGS)
centres and organising seasonal camps.
The Minister said development of academic and physical
infrastructure was the need of the hour as progress in any
field depends on the literacy and education standards.
To meet the shortage of teaching staff, about 6,000
teachers have been selected by Service Selection Board (SSB)
and 54,497 Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT) teachers engaged in newly
opened and upgraded schools.
He said 4,242 primary and 616 middle-school buildings
have been constructed and 4,585 additional class rooms and 330
computer learning centres established.
For girl child education, Sayeed said 78 Kasturba Gandhi
Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) have been made operational, while
construction of 60 of them is in progress.
He said under mid-day meal scheme, 8.51 lakh and 3.14
lakh children have been covered at primary and upper-primary
level, respectively, during the current fiscal.
Girl hostels and model schools are being established in
educationally backward areas and scholarships for 4,206 SC and
ST and KGBV passed out girls at the rate of Rs 3,000 per child
sanctioned by the Centre have been credited to their accounts.
Also, 145 out of 300 mobile schools for Gujjars and
Bakerwals which were earlier closed due to militancy are being
re-started, Sayeed said.
About 20 members took part in the debate on the demand
after which grants amounting to Rs 262039.08 lakh were passed
by the House.
PTI
