JAMMU: Minister for Education Sakeena Itoo today informed the House that the government is endeavouring hard to boost the educational ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir, with special focus on establishing all kinds of facilities in the government schools.
The Minister stated this while replying to a question of Legislator, Khursheed Ahmad Sheikh, in the Legislative Assembly regarding the introduction of new subjects.
She informed that components relating to general studies, computer education, digital literacy and vocational skill-based education have been introduced at different levels of schooling in a phased manner depending upon the levels of institution, availability of infrastructure, trained manpower and other requisite facilities.
She added that Computer Science, Information Practices and IT as separate subjects have already been introduced in the curriculum at Higher Secondary School Level (XI to XII). Besides, vocational/skill-based education with 15 different trades have also been implemented in High and Higher Secondary in alignment with the recommendations of the National Education Policy
She further said that the introduction of Artificial Intelligence as a subject/discipline is also under active consideration in the department in alignment with NEP 2020.
The integration of 21st century skills, as articulated in the National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023, and envisioned in NEP 2020 is already being implemented in a phased manner and the revised curriculum framework emphasizes critical thinking, creativity, communication, collaboration, digital literacy, problem-solving, and experiential learning, the Minister further said.
She added that these competencies are being systematically embedded across subjects through curriculum rationalization, revised pedagogical approaches, competency-based assessments and integration of skill-oriented modules at the Secondary and Senior Secondary levels.
The Minister also informed that the existing curriculum is aligned with the National Education Policy-2020, particularly in respect of digital literacy, multidisciplinary learning and vocational education. She informed that the National Education Policy 2020 advocates an integrated and holistic approach to curriculum design, and accordingly, domains like Digital Literacy and Skill Education are embedded within the curriculum from the Foundational Stage onwards.
She also gave out that the teachers are being oriented and trained to effectively integrate these competencies into classroom practices, thereby ensuring the acquisition of relevant skills and learning outcomes in a holistic manner.
The Minister further revealed that at the Secondary and Senior Secondary levels, Digital Literacy and Skill Education are also being offered as dedicated elective subjects within the curriculum, in addition to their cross-curricular integration.