When it comes to giving out IFA, or de-worming pills to pupils, SED does badly.
Srinagar, August 8: On Tuesday, the Ministry of Education (MoE) voiced worry over the low rates at which health checks, Iron Folic Acid (IFA) distribution, and deworming pill administration among Jammu and Kashmir schoolchildren had been implemented.
School health screenings have fallen behind schedule in Jammu and Kashmir, and neither IFA nor de-worming pills have been delivered to kids.
Only 84% (8,47,509) of registered pupils have been covered by the department for health checks, and only 26% (2,67,716) and 20% (2,05,726), respectively, have received IFA tablets and de-worming drugs.
There must be universal access to health screenings, IFA tablets, and de-worming pills for all pupils. The policy states that the administration should prioritise the needs of all pupils enrolled in the institutions.
This came up at a meeting of the Project Approval Board (PAB) to discuss the Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWP&B) 2023-24 of the PM POSHAN programme in Jammu and Kashmir, which was called by the Secretary of the Department of School Education and Literacy (DSEL) of the Ministry of Education.
The Ministry of Education recommended collecting focused group data from teenage females and pupils in aspirational areas and using it to take remedial measures if appropriate.
It may be possible to provide instructors with the resources they need to take height and weight measurements of their children on a yearly basis. The text states that “teachers may be trained to visually observe the signs of anaemia and dental problems.”
Doctors’ completed health cards should be safely stored, and the department has been requested to notify parents so that they may arrange for referrals, if necessary.
According to the report, the Secretary DSEL has requested that the J&K SED address the underperforming metrics in order to meet the scheme’s overall goals.
“The radar chart is an effective tool for periodic monitoring of key indicators under the scheme and may be used for reviewing the performance of the key indicators,” it says in the official document.
In order to spot problems, investigate their causes, and act swiftly to fix them, the Secretary of DSEL has requested that the J&K government compile time series data on critical indicators.
The Ministry of Education has tasked the SED with keeping all of the data entered into the MIS up to date at all times and has requested that the officials present at the meeting conduct monthly reviews to ensure that all employees at all levels are made aware of the importance of correct data entry and quality check of the data entered into the MIS.
To keep track of the number of meals that have been provided to pupils, PM POSHAN has implemented an Automated Monitoring System (AMS) for real-time monitoring.
The Secretary of the Department of School and Exchange of Learning (DSEL) has voiced worry about the poor reporting of school data in J&K and has asked the administration to guarantee daily data reporting by 100% of schools on AMS, adding that it was an essential platform for monitoring the programme.
