Digital info system: Govt schools take the lead

Vikram Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 26

Taking a lead, the state government schools have prepared the comprehensive data of students under the School Management Information System (SMIS) scheme launched by the Government of India while private schools, including Army schools and Kendriya Vidyalayas are yet to submit the data to the Education Department.

To put in place a comprehensive mechanism for creating a single source of authentic and readily available database for policy-making, evaluation and distribution of resources, the state’s Education Department had launched the ambitious internet-based School Management Information System, a comprehensive digital initiative which includes both e-management of schools and e-learning for students.

“We have completed the entire exercise and have connected the links required to make the system fully functional. Since the data has to go to the Centre for complete networking, it needs to include all schools’ data pertaining to students to be enrolled into the scheme,” said Babila Rakwal, director, Education, Jammu.

She, however, expressed disappointment over many private, Kendriya Vidyalayas as well as Army schools for not applying for the programme which was delaying holistic networking through the SMIS.

“Despite many reminders to all commandants of Army schools as well as sangathan in charges of Kendriya Vidalayas to supply the data under the programme, the school heads did not respond. I have even written letters to their departments to comply with the agenda but lethargy on their part is affecting the process,” said Babila Rakwal.

She also said that government schools and teachers were quick in responding to the new technique and had supplied the entire data to the Education Department on time.

Launched by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on January 1, the SMIS, developed by the Education Department, is an integrated technology framework that automates the entire end-to-end management of school education and its related information in the state. It will also provide readily available digital details of all 28,000 schools in the state, their location, type of school, number of classrooms, toilets, library, science labs, boundary walls, number of teachers, number of students, teacher-student ratio, etc.