KD NEWS SERVICE
SOPORE, Oct 5: Commissioner Secretary, Higher and School Education Department, Ram Niwas Sharma, on Monday stressed the need to increase the number of instructional days in schools, saying the education system should focus more on academic engagement than on the number of holidays.
Speaking to media persons on the sidelines of an event in Sopore, Sharma said he would consider it a positive development if schools in Jammu and Kashmir were able to remain open for as many as 220 days in an academic year.
“I will be happy on that day when we will have the school open for 220 days,” Sharma said, underlining the importance of ensuring adequate classroom time for students.
He said the discussion around the academic calendar should not be limited to holidays and instead should focus on increasing the number of days during which teaching and learning take place.
“There was a time when even 100–125 days schools did not open. Please do not focus on holidays. Let the Directors of School Education in Kashmir and Jammu decide when holidays are required,” he said.
Sharma’s remarks come amid continued discussions over the academic calendar, particularly the number of working days available to schools and the need to maximise instructional time for students.
On the Annual Transfer Drive (ATD), the Commissioner Secretary said transfers of employees would continue as a routine administrative exercise and would not be allowed to disrupt the academic session in schools and colleges.
“We would not like to disturb the academic session in the schools and colleges. Transfer is a normal process. It will continue. ATD has been done, so they have to analyse and go ahead. This is a routine thing,” he said.
He emphasised that administrative processes such as transfers must be managed in a manner that ensures continuity in teaching and does not adversely affect the academic schedule of institutions.
Sharma also spoke about the changing focus of the education system in Jammu and Kashmir, saying the government was moving towards greater emphasis on skill-oriented and vocational education.
According to him, around 1.54 lakh school students are currently pursuing different skill-based courses. He said skill components were also increasingly being incorporated into courses offered by colleges and universities, with the broader objective of making education more relevant to employment and emerging career opportunities.
The Commissioner Secretary further said Jammu and Kashmir could witness the establishment of private universities once the rules under the recently passed legislation are approved by the competent authority.
He expressed confidence that the introduction of an appropriate regulatory framework would encourage educational institutions and investors from outside Jammu and Kashmir, as well as international entities, to explore opportunities in the Union Territory.
“The moment we have the rules and Act in place, I expect people not only from across the country but from across international boundaries also to come and establish private universities,” Sharma said.
He said the entry of more institutions could contribute to the expansion of higher education opportunities and provide students with greater access to diverse academic and skill-based programmes.
Referring to the sporting event in Sopore, where more than 900 athletes participated, Sharma described the participation as a matter of pride for Jammu and Kashmir, particularly North Kashmir.
He expressed appreciation for the large participation of girls in sporting activities, saying their growing presence in sports reflected a positive change and provided opportunities for young women to pursue excellence beyond academics.
Sharma congratulated the participating athletes and expressed hope that they would perform well in sports while also building successful careers and contributing to the development of the country.
The Commissioner Secretary’s emphasis on increasing instructional days, strengthening skill-based education and maintaining continuity during administrative transfers comes as the education sector in Jammu and Kashmir continues to undergo changes aimed at improving learning outcomes and broadening opportunities for students.
