66 schools rebuilt in quake-hit areas of Kashmir

Srinagar, Nov 9 (UNI) About 66 school buildings have been either completed or were under construction in the quake-ravaged areas of Baramulla and Kupwara districts in Jammu and Kashmir.

This was stated by Education Minister Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed at a high-level meeting here last evening.

He said efforts have been stepped up to rebuild schools which had been partially or fully damaged due to the devastating earthquake of October 8 last year in Uri and Tangdhar areas.

The Minister said the Jammu and Kashmir government was keen to improve the educational standards and achieve hundred per cent literacy in the state and several steps to achieve far-reaching results have been launched.

New subjects such as Computer Sciences, Information Technology, Environmental Sciences, Bio-Technology, Bio-Chemistry, Electronics and Islamic Studies have been introduced in a phased manner in higher secondary schools, he added.

Mr Sayeed said the thrust has been laid on consolidating the education infrastructure and extending better facilities to the people in the state.

Computer systems and generator sets have been provided to 100 higher secondary schools from November 2005 to October this year.

During the period, 268 primary and 28 middle schools and 487 additional classrooms have been completed under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) in the state.

He said 59 primary schools were set up under SSA while 17 primary, eight middle and two high schools have been upgraded during the period.

The Minister said construction work of 50 computer laboratories was under execution. As a measure to help children identified with learning gaps, remedial teaching has been organised from class one to eight, he added.

Mr Sayeed said a scheme of provisional admission to class 10 and 12 pending announcement of results has been introduced to provide for pre-winter vacation in these classes.

About 5.90 lakh children have been covered under the Mid-day Meal scheme while textbooks have been provided to 6.80 lakh students during the past one year, he added.

UNI AG MS DS1400