Srinagar: The District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) Budgam (Beerwah) has been designated as a centre of excellence under the Project DIET of excellence by the Government of India. Funding for the construction of this project has been approved, and work has commenced on the development of the project’s infrastructure.
Fayaz Ahmad Bhat, the District Nodal Officer of the DIET of Excellence Budgam (Beerwah), informed Rising Kashmir that among the all-India rankings, 16 DIETs across the country have met the necessary criteria. Notably, DIET Budgam is the sole DIET in the Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory to receive the designation of Centre of Excellence under the DIET of Excellence project.
“On January 10, 2024, DIET Budgam along with 15 other DIETs from various states in India, successfully qualified for this criteria and was awarded this title. This initiative is a centrally sponsored project by the Ministry of Education, Government of India,” he said.
Bhat stated that a comprehensive project report amounting to Rs 1883.69 lakhs has been prepared for the construction of this development project. This report has been submitted as a proposal to the Government of India for the enhancement of the infrastructure related to this project at the designated location.
“An allocation of Rs 1017.71 lakhs has been sanctioned by the government for the construction of the new facility at the DIET,” he stated.
Under this project, a multi-purpose building administrative block G+2 will be constructed, which encompasses an academic unit, a computer lab, a research room, a Balvatika room, a skill lab, an auditorium, an establishment section, a principal’s chamber, and a research coordinator’s room.
Additionally, further facilities will also be developed under this project at the DIET. These projects include a 50-bedded female hostel, a single residential quarter, a family residential quarter, three washroom components for males, females, and children with special needs (CWSN), a canteen, a parking bay, and a boundary wall.
Out of a total budget of 1017.71 lakhs, 8.64 lakhs are allocated for civil works, while the remaining amount is designated for the procurement and enhancement of DIET, which includes solar panels, digital hardware and software, smart classrooms, AV aids, provisions for a website, CCTV surveillance, fire safety measures, first aid facilities, furniture, and initiatives.
He said that the work for this development commenced in May 2025; however, this project must be completed within a timeframe of 30 months. The Ministry of Education, Sakina ltoo, is also set to lay the foundation stone for this project at the DIET.
DIET of Excellence: The Concept
The idea of “DIET of Excellence” is to turn the functional DIETs (District Institutes of Education and Training) in the country into district-level educational hubs of innovation and excellence. These organisations would be strengthened as centres for curriculum creation, teacher preparation, research, and innovation, enhancing elementary, secondary, and senior secondary education while assisting decentralisation initiatives.
A “DIET of Excellence” will focus on empowering teachers through in-depth training programmes that improve their topic knowledge, pedagogical abilities, and teaching approaches. Additionally, this “DIET of Excellence will also be committed to creating and upgrading curricular frameworks, textbooks, and teaching-learning materials to adhere to state or national standards and satisfy the different requirements of students.
As DIETs traditionally perform studies and action research to investigate successful teaching practices and educational initiatives, a “DIET of Excellence” will have research and innovation as crucial components that support evidence-based decision-making and ongoing development. “DIET of Excellence” will propagate knowledge sharing, resource mobilisation, and the exchange of best practices and collaboration among universities, schools, government agencies and CSOs.
It is envisaged that these district-level institutions will be adequately strengthened to become models of high-quality education by exemplifying the “DIET of Excellence” through empowering educators and improving student learning outcomes. In other words, it will make a substantial contribution to the overall development of students, teachers, schools and the community at large.
Aims and Objectives of DIETs as Centres of Excellence
- Providing state-of-the-art classrooms, well-equipped laboratories, and cutting-edge
Digitised library facilities would improve the learning environment.
- Include the most recent ICT and technology tools to enable creative teaching strategies.
and individualised learning techniques.
- Promote use of technology in education to promote a culture of research and practice.
- Provide teachers with opportunities for continuous professional development so they can
Adjust to contemporary teaching methods.
- Through the use of cutting-edge technology in education, prepare students for a digital
and knowledge-driven society.
- Establish a supportive atmosphere for learning through provision of adequate
infrastructure and technological resources.
- Promote networking and collaboration among those involved in education for the
purpose of sharing information and mobilising resources.
Vision Statement of DIET of Excellence
The vision of a “DIET of Excellence” is to become an exemplar centre of innovation and educational excellence, which would empower both students and teachers with tech-enabled infrastructure. These centres will lead the way in providing quality school education through continuous professional development programmes, innovation, and transformative practices.
