Samoon reviews Education Investment Policy 2020

Srinagar, June 4 (GNS): Principal Secretary, School Education, Dr Asgar Samoon today chaired a meeting here to discuss the implementation of Jammu and Kashmir Education Investment Policy 2020.The meeting was attended by representatives from the universities, Education department, private stakeholders and other officers.During the meeting, the Principal Secretary directed the authorities and other stakeholders to explore possibilities to attract private investors for establishing private universities in Jammu and Kashmir.
He directed the various stakeholders to come up with suggestions for ensuring the implementation of Jammu and Kashmir Education Investment Policy 2020. He said that universities have a great role to play in skill development and the need of the hour is to work in tandem with the industrial demand.Laying the ground for attracting private investors, the government said that an empowered ‘Single Window Clearance Body’ will be created and operationalized for granting time bound approvals and clearances for setting up of new private schools/ residential schools / colleges/technical education institutes/ universities.  
It was given out in the meeting that the government has created land banks for establishing educational institutes with particular emphasis on entrepreneurship.During the meeting a detailed presentation was given by Director School Education Kashmir giving out the details of the Jammu and Kashmir Investment Policy 2020. It was given out in the meeting that education Investment Policy is aimed at restoring the educational ecosystem balance in the UT and to enhance the educational infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir, so that the students do not migrate elsewhere to study. The government would provide handholding support throughout the process of setting up educational initiatives in the UT and due preference will be given to reputed players in the field of education, willing to set up universities in Jammu and Kashmir.
Under the new investment policy, the government will facilitate the technical institutions to collaborate with various industries to identify skilling needs in an individual domain and design specific courses tailored to the requirements of the same. To upskill the students with the relevant domain specific hard and soft skills, a ‘Hands-on Skilling Program’ based on hub and spoke model of implementation will be envisaged.To create innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem in schools and colleges of the UT, establishment of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Cells (IEC) will be encouraged in higher educational institutions. Funds shall be allocated to individual IECs to undertake various activities on ideation, innovation and entrepreneurship in their respective campuses.The government aims to create a world-class educational ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir by fostering the spirit of creativity and nurturing a culture of scientific temper and critical thinking.
Under the new education investment policy, an educational City will be set up under the category of Mega Project with smart schools, engineering colleges, technical education institutes, multidisciplinary colleges among other things.
The government also aims to facilitate and promote entrepreneurship development, skill-based education and research in the emerging areas of manufacturing, information technology, textile, design and to raise the skill level of various fields related to these areas.It was also given out in the meeting that all proposals received under this policy will be out up for approval before the apex level project clearance Committee which will also act as high-powered committee that will lay down the detailed implementation guidelines of the policy. (GNS)