SRINAGAR: In Jammu and Kashmir, at least 65 government schools have zero student enrolment, while over five thousand primary schools have fewer than 30 students enrolled, and more than 1,500 schools are functioning with enrolment of only 15 students or less.
The Ministry of Education (MoE), Government of India, in a recent report stated, “Out of the total 18,785 government schools in the UT, 65 schools—including 62 primary and three upper primary schools—have zero enrolment.”
“5,073 primary schools have fewer than 30 students enrolled, and 1,597 schools have fewer than 15 students,” the MoE said.
The Ministry further mentioned that the number of schools with an adverse Pupil Teacher Ratio (PTR) at the primary level is 16 per cent.
The MoE has requested the Jammu and Kashmir administration to review the schools with adverse PTR and to identify the reasons for low enrolment, advising that the issue be addressed on priority, including the rationalisation of teachers.
“Based on proposals submitted by the UT in different years, a total of 1,869 schools have been approved for skill education under Samagra Shiksha. Of these, the UT has implemented skill education in only 1,621 schools,” the report reads.
The MoE further stated that the current school coverage for skill education stands at 72.19 percent, with implementation across 15 sectors, including Agriculture, Automotive, Beauty and Wellness, Electronics and Hardware, Healthcare, Retail, Information Technology, Tourism, Media and Entertainment, Plumbing, Power, Private Security, Sports and Physical Education, Telecom, and Tourism and Hospitality.
The UT has been advised to extend the coverage of skill education to uncovered schools and students by introducing appropriate sectors and job roles. (KNO)
