Jammu: The State Administrative Council (SAC) which met here today under the chairmanship of Governor, Satya Pal Malik approved upgradation of 228 schools spread across various districts. Out of 210 schools, 87 High Schools have been upgraded to the level of Higher Secondary Schools including 42 in Jammu Division and 45 in Kashmir Division. Similarly, 123 Middle Schools have been upgraded to the level of High Schools including 58 in Jammu Division and 65 in Kashmir Division. SAC approved up-gradation of 18 schools under centrally sponsored scheme of Samagra Shiksha. These include 12 Middle Schools upgraded to High Schools including 8 in Jammu Division and 4 in Kashmir Division and 06 High Schools to Higher Secondary Schools including 3 in Jammu Division and 3 in Kashmir Division. SAC also approved up-gradation of Government Lower High School, Mallan Dessa Tehsil Bhagwah District Doda to High School. Besides, the SAC also directed the School Education Department to conduct a detailed exercise for consolidation of schools and rationalization of the staff in respect of such schools in the State particularly in the cities and big towns where the enrolment is low and PTR is imbalanced with respect to the average State PTR. The decision of the SAC today will fulfil the long standing demand of the people of these rural and inaccessible areas. The decision will have a discernible impact in bridging gaps and will result in decline in the school dropout rate in these areas. Further, this will result in a paradigm improvement in quality of education and benefit girl students and disadvantaged sections of the society.
