Reform: DIET’s to be merged with SCERT’s in JK
Move aimed to establish research institutes at district level
Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government is all set to have its full-fledged State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) in Kashmir.
In this regard, the advisor Khurshid Ahmad Ganai has asked the school education department to merge the District Institute of Education and Trainings (DIETs) with the SCERT for smooth functioning of these research institutes at district level.
“SCERT will be set up to improve the overall academic scenario in schools,” an official said.
Pertinently, SCERT as an institution will have full control over academic activities of educational institutions in the state.
According to officials, SCERT will replace the existing State Institute of Education (SIE) and will be more empowered in the school education department.
“It will be working as independent institutions and take control of academic activities in schools,” the official said.
As already reported by this newspaper, J&K is the lone state without its own SCERT institute due to which it failed to keep pace with other states in terms of academics in schools.
The government, few months ago, deputed incumbent Principal of SIE Kashmir and one teacher for attending a two-day MGNCRE-National Consultative Workshop with directors of SCERT, from August 9 at Hyderabad.
“Role of SCERT will be to organize and implement the special educational projects sponsored by UNICEF, NCERT and other agencies for qualitative improvement of school education and teacher educators,” an official said.
He said the mandate of SCERT is to prescribe curricula and textbooks for the schools and teacher training institutions besides producing instructional materials for the use of teacher- educators.
Few days ago, joint secretary MHRD also convened a meeting with the officials of school education department in Jammu and asked them to device a mechanism to merge the DIET institutes with upcoming SCERT.
Director School Education Kashmir (DSEK) G N Itoo said the administrative department is in process of finalizing the formalities to inaugurate the newly approved SCERT for Kashmir.
“I am also going to Jammu within few days to attend a meeting to be convened by secretary school education department,” he said. He said the SCERT will improve the academic standards in the government schools.
KV Correspondent
