Srinagar, March 23: The Jammu and Kashmir government has announced that there are no immediate plans to establish new middle and high schools or upgrade existing institutions to higher levels.
Responding to a query raised by MLA Reyaz Ahmad Khan during the Assembly session, the Minister for School Education Sakina Itoo clarified that no proposals for the creation or elevation of middle and high schools are currently under consideration. The Minister assured that the government remains committed to strengthening the educational infrastructure but emphasised that any expansion must be financially and administratively feasible.
He noted that a significant number of schools have already been opened and upgraded over the years. However, further upgrades require the establishment of additional teaching posts, improved facilities and new infrastructure, all of which carry substantial financial implications and necessitate approval from the Finance Department.
The Minister outlined the strict guidelines governing the upgrading of schools, ensuring that expansion is based on necessity rather than indiscriminate growth. The Minister confirmed that no school has been upgraded in the past two years, despite the demand for improved educational access in several areas. However, she stated that, in some cases, the government has authorised schools to begin higher classes using internal arrangements to address immediate needs. Going forward, the government will assess new proposals for school upgrades based on feasibility reports, regulatory requirements, and the critical necessity in specific areas. The Minister assured that any expansion would be carried out in a structured manner to avoid financial strain and ensure sustainable growth in the education sector.
Criteria for School upgrades
Primary School (PS) to Middle School (MS):
The nearest middle school must be at least 3 km away.
There must be at least two primary schools feeding into the middle school.
The primary school must have a minimum enrolment of 20 students.
Middle School (MS) to High School (HS):
The nearest high school must be at least 5 km away.
The intake capacity must be at least 20 students for a single section and 50 for a double section.
High School (HS) to Higher Secondary School (HSS)
The nearest higher secondary school must be 7–10 km away.
The intake capacity for an upgrade must exceed 50 students.
