Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir government has approved the appointment of 6000 teachers to further boost the education sector which had been adversely affected during last two decades.

The approval was accorded by Minister for School Education and Public Enterprises Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed on the recommendations of Services Selection Recruitment Board (SSRB).

The minister expressed concern over the loss of teaching days in the Kashmir valley where only 150 days were available to educate students against 210 days of teaching.

The Minister has sought cooperation of teachers and parents to improve educational standards and achieve hundred per cent literacy in the state.

He also stressed upon imparting moral education to students and gearing up extra-curricular activities in educational institutions.

Chairing a high-level meeting, to deliberate upon ways and means to further improve the education sector and review achievements registered, the Minister said like various other spheres of life, the education sector had also been affected during the last two decades.

He expressed concern over the loss of precious time of students due to unfavourable conditions and said this also contributed to the State recording less literacy rate than the national average.

The Minister appealed to the teachers to come forward and help make up for the academic loss suffered by the students during the peak of current academic session. He urged them to conduct extra classes to complete the uncovered syllabus so that students were able to compete in academic and professional examinations with their counterparts from various parts of the country.

Mr Sayeed said moral education should be imparted to the students which will prove beneficial for them in life.

The Minister made a fervent call to parents to ensure that their wards attended classes regularly and did not fall short of attendance. He said, apart from enhancing discipline this would also contribute to raise educational standards and achieve the dream of cent per cent literacy.

Giving details of the measures initiated by the government to develop this important sector Mr Sayeed said various schemes and Centrally-sponsored programmes were in progress in the state.

He said apart from up-gradation and opening up of new schools, scholarships and free textbooks were being provided to deserving students.

Mr Sayeed said mid-day meal scheme was also under implementation to cut the dropout rate and encourage children to take up studies.

He said, it was the endeavour of the government to improve educational standards and enable students of the State to compete in national and even international examinations and competitions.

The meeting also deliberated upon suggestions to give free admission to children belonging to below poverty line families in educational institutions.