SRINAGAR: In a change, students will now evaluate teachers and schools in Kashmir.
The J&K education department has started a pilot to test the situation before rolling out the full-fledged programme.
Under the new initiative, feedback about the teacher and the school will be verified through mobile phone-based OTP. It is intended to prevent false feedback or imitations.
The main purpose of the application is to make teaching and schooling more accountable. Following the successful pilot implementation, the project will be implemented in public schools. Private schools will also follow this.
A committee will analyze the feedback and cross-check it with independent observers for accuracy. Chronically faulty teachers and habitually bad schools will be dealt with under the rules.
Parents welcomed the initiative, with a caveat. Parents of primary and secondary school students also want to share their contributions by participating in this study.
“A primary school student cannot judge a teacher. They are guided by their parents at home. Parents get to know more about teachers while checking the progress of their wards. Parents can also help in giving proper feedback,” said Asma Goni, President, Kashmir Privately Managed Schools Parents Association
Post-pandemic, a five per cent increase in student enrollments was recorded in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) 2021-22 report revealed that 142,286 new students were enrolled in government and private educational institutes of Jammu and Kashmir.
Total enrollment from primary schools to 12th standard in 2020-21 was 2576358. The number increased to 2718644 in 2021-22.
But enrollment rates at private schools fell by more than one percent.
Enrollment in government schools increased from 1324301 students (primary to grade 12) in 2020-21 to 1473368 in 2021-22.
Enrollment in private educational institutions decreased from 1240551 students in 2020-21 to 1235033 in 2021-22.
According to the report, the increase in enrollment is due to the improvement of facilities in both public and private educational institutions.
For example, 23173 government schools in Jammu and Kashmir were equipped with computers and libraries in 2021-22 compared to 23167 in 2020-21.
Similarly, 23173 schools were provided with internet facility last year compared to 23167 schools in 2020-21.
An official from the education department told The Kashmir Monitor that the awareness campaigns are yielding results.
news source (www.thekashmirmonitor.net)
