Education in 2010: Year of crests and troughs

PS BALI
Jammu Tawi, December 29
Like any other area, education sector of the state also witnessed various crests and troughs during year 2010. From protests to negotiations, seminars to publications, criticism to admiration, targets to miss-outs, participation to pull outs and from controversies to achievements, the sector had surprises through out the year for Jammuites.It all started with the allocation of Central University (CU) to Jammu, what many tout as mother of all controversies in the sector, followed by number of political, social, educational, partial, inspirational, self-vested and discriminative agitations.The appointment of Prof. Amitabh Mattoo, as Vice Chancellor of the CU, however, was expected to mark the beginning of its functioning.But the controversy over it would not be pacified here only, when the other 30 Central Universities all over the country had almost completed their one session, even though its counterpart, CU in Kashmir has also started its proceedings. The CU granted to Jammu has been the victim of political melodrama and is craving for constitution, even as Jammuites are anticipating its functioning in coming year. In limbo for past one year, the Central University raised many eyebrows over the working of management, it seems perhaps wrong to say that regionalism was extending its roots in the state over the controversy of Central University, which was dedicated by centre with the motive of promoting education system of the state. The year also witnessed impersonation scam, where renowned politician has to bequeath his chair, paper leakage scam came out this year and superintendent involved in this also get caught red handed.
When on one side constitution of CU created number of hurdles and headaches in the working of higher education, while the year had something to cheer about for the education sector as well.Notwithstanding its lows, higher education in 2010 attained new glories, with 8-10 per cent of augmentation in literacy rate, in addition to Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) of state, which touched 12 per cent from 7.09 per cent. The achievements of the higher education could be sensed with the ever increasing literacy rate and infrastructural rate that reached on six universities, excluding Central University and more than 90 government colleges in addition to around 323 privately run colleges. Beside, this many infrastructural development including hostels, laboratories, libraries, sports infrastructure and other such growth was also witnessed in the year.  Contradicting the achievements of higher education, 2010 also beheld various miss-outs, which pulled back this strife-torn state, the continuous protest by students, teachers and non-teaching faculty for many legitimate and some illegitimate demands. Rejection of Union Human Resource Development Ministry on the demand of the State Government for more funds for the construction of 18 polytechnics, whose fate is hanging in balance for the past over one and half year because of the financial constrain.Meanwhile similar was the year for Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE), where the literacy rate jumped to 65.67 per cent from paltry 55 per cent, the number of school dropouts also reduced from 3.67 lakh to 0.39 lakh due to opening and upgrading of primary schools, establishment of education guarantee scheme (EGS) center and organising seasonal camps.
During this year, to meet the shortage of teaching staff, about 6,000 teachers were selected by Service Selection Board (SSB) and 54,497 Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT) teachers were engaged in newly opened and upgraded schools.4,242 primary and 616 middle-school buildings were constructed and 4,585 additional class rooms and 330 computer learning centers were          established.
As per official data around 8.51 lakh and 3.14 lakh children have been covered at primary and upper-primary level, respectively under mid-day meal scheme. Alike controversy of CU, JK BOSE also witnessed agitations, over the superannuation of chairman, Desh Bandhu, which was not accepted by the student community.