MUZAFFA RABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government has decided to initiate recruitment against vacant teaching posts, introduce a digital attendance system in educational institutions and expand the use of technology in the education department as part of a series of measures aimed at improving the quality of education.
The decisions were taken at a meeting chaired by Minister for Elementary and Secondary Education Engineer Umair Naeem Advocate on Friday.
The meeting directed the department to refer vacancies of senior general line and science teachers, headmasters, computer instructors and subject specialists to the Public Service Commission (PSC) after immediately determining the available posts and relevant quotasto address staff shortages and improve classroom instruction.
The meeting also decided to expedite the selection process for various teaching cadres under the departmental quota and initiate regular and ad hoc appointments in accordance with the prescribed rules.
Under the proposed attendance monitoring system, an application developed by the Education Management Information System (EMIS) will initially be installed in 50 primary schools in each district within 15 days. Its installation in all educational institutions across the state is to be completed by March 2027.
The meeting was informed that 1,700 of the 1,900 biometric devices installed in high, higher secondary and middle schools were in working order. The department was directed to makeall the devicesfully operational within the next seven days and deliver repaired equipment to the respective institutionswithout delay. The remaining 200 schoolswere also ordered to be equippedwith the attendance application immediately.
The ministerexpressed concern over the unsatisfactory results of Class IX in the previous academic session and directed the relevant inquiry committee to submit its recommendations without delay.
The meeting approved cash awards for students who excelled in matriculation examinations, based on the SEPI ranking, and certificatesof appreciationfor outstanding teachers. Award ceremonies will be organised at district and divisional levels.
In another decision aimed at digitising the education department, the minister directed officials to prepare a plan for extending a web portal developed by the Kotli district education administration to other districts.
The portal, developed by a team of computer instructors underthe supervision ofdistricteducation officials, will provide a real-time dashboard to monitor the performance of educational institutions. The department will subsequently adopt an electronic file management system.
The meeting also decided to prepare a working paper for introducing the federal Foundational Learning Policy 2026 in AJK and seek its approval from the cabinet. It called for making teachers’ professional training units operational in all districts.
On administrative matters, a committee working on service rules for laboratory assistants and various categories of elementary teachers, including drawing, technical and agro-tech instructors, was directed to submit its recommendations within seven days.
The minister also ordered administrative officers to keep their academic and professional records updated and ensure timely processing of official files.
The meeting further decided to hold a state-level ceremony to acknowledge philanthropists and nongovernmental organisations contributing to the construction and renovation of government schools, establishment of early childhood education (ECE) rooms and improvement of other school facilities.
A committee was constituted to prepare a working paper for the event within a week.
The education minister expressed the resolve that the AJK government would utilise all available resources to improve educational standards through transparency, adherence to merit, effective use of modern technology and administrative reforms.