KD NEWS SERVICE
SRINAGAR, Feb 08: The School Education Department (SED) Kashmir has successfully delivered nearly 60% of free textbooks to government schools across the region, with an assurance that 100% distribution will be completed before schools reopen after winter vacations.
Director School Education Kashmir (DSEK), G N Itoo, stated that despite the limited time available, the transition back to the November-December academic session up to the 9th standard was executed efficiently. He acknowledged that the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) had insufficient time for groundwork, yet significant progress had been made in textbook distribution.
“At present, at least 60% of free textbooks have reached government schools, and the distribution process is ongoing,” Itoo informed reporters.
Winter Tutorials and Book Bank Initiative
Itoo highlighted the Book Bank initiative, where old textbooks are stored in schools and utilized for students in need. Additionally, he noted that 200 winter tutorial centers have been established across Kashmir, catering to approximately 33,000 students who have been provided with the required textbooks from these book banks.
Addressing Academic Gaps Identified in ASER Survey
The Director also emphasized that the department is actively addressing infrastructure and academic gaps identified in the latest Annual Status of Education Report (ASER-2025) survey.
“We have constituted special teams to examine these gaps, and an administrative-level meeting has already been held to discuss the findings,” he said.
Furthermore, he assured that the directorate will soon submit a comprehensive roadmap to the government to bridge these gaps and enhance educational standards in Kashmir.
“At certain levels, we have performed extremely well compared to the national average,” Itoo remarked, highlighting the department’s commitment to improving the education system.
With these initiatives in place, the SED aims to ensure smooth academic progress and a resourceful learning environment for students across Kashmir.
