Leh, Jul 18: A Parliamentary Standing Committee (PSC) meeting on Education, Women, Children, Youth, and Sports was held in Leh to review the status and progress of school education in the Union Territory of Ladakh. Chaired by Digvijaya Singh, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), the gathering brought together central and UT-level officials to deliberate on steps needed to uplift the region’s education system.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Singh emphasized the importance of improving school infrastructure, promoting local languages and cultural values within the curriculum, and addressing challenges in remote connectivity that hinder educational access in far-flung areas of Ladakh.
A comprehensive presentation was delivered by A. Sirja, Economic Advisor at the Ministry of Education. Drawing on data from UDISE+ 2023–24, she outlined the current situation of schools in Ladakh. Her report covered enrolment figures, infrastructure status, teacher availability, performance grading, and insights from the PARAKH RASHTRA survey. She also spoke about budget allocations and progress under schemes like PM POSHAN, SAMAGRA Shiksha, DIKSHA, and Vidya Samiksha Kendra, pointing out areas where implementation faced difficulties.
The second part of the meeting featured a presentation by Bhanu Prabha, Secretary, School Education, UT Ladakh. She shed light on local educational developments, such as the Ladakh Education Conclave and the roll-out of PM SHRI Schools. Updates were shared on winter residential coaching, STEM initiatives, digital education efforts, and policies aimed at recognizing teacher contributions. She also underlined efforts in integrating early childhood care through the co-location of Anganwadi centres with schools.
Members of the Committee interacted directly with UT officials, voicing concerns about teacher shortages, delays in fund distribution, and limited vocational opportunities. Particular attention was paid to challenges faced by girl students due to a lack of proper sanitation facilities. Connectivity issues in isolated areas, gaps in skill-based education, and the pace of New Education Policy implementation were also examined.
Responding to these issues, Chief Secretary Dr. Pawan Kotwal provided updates on upcoming recruitment drives, school infrastructure plans, and initiatives meant to ensure wider and fairer access to quality education. He assured the Committee that Ladakh’s administration is taking steps to address the concerns raised, with a focus on long-term improvement.
The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation of cooperation between the Centre and the UT administration. Alongside Chairman Digvijaya Singh, other PSC members and senior officials from the Ministry of Education and the Ladakh administration were in attendance, including Joint Secretary Vimal Kumar, Principal Secretary Sanjeev Khirwar, and Secretary Bhanu Prabha, among others.
The Committee’s visit to Leh marked a constructive step in supporting Ladakh’s education system by spotlighting challenges on the ground and reinforcing the need for timely action.
