Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, RK Mathur visited Government Middle School (GMS), Taknak in Sakti also known as Council Model School on March 26.

LG Mathur was accorded a warm welcome by the staff and teachers of GMS Taknak led by Headteacher National award winner Sonam Gyaltsan. Mathur interacted with students, teachers, Village Education Committee (VEC) and parents and also inquired about the facilities available at the school for the students.

Headteacher Sonam Gyaltsan informed LG Mathur about the strength of students and teachers and the high number of enrolment of students at the school due to innovative methods introduced in the school such as availability of dedicated subject-based classrooms with subject-wise teachers, school exchange programme with different government and private schools in Leh, conduct of winter residential camps for students, hostel and bus facility for students, the introduction of remedial classes, etc.

Sonam Gyalstan also indicated his aspiration to develop GMS Taknak into one of the best schools in Ladakh. He informed that this shall involve converting GMS Taknak into a modern hi-tech smart school with all facilities, provision of a heating facility at the school, converting the school into a fully residential school, construction of more classrooms, a multipurpose hall and mid-day meal kitchen for ICDS children; blacktopping of the internal road leading to the school, the need for a permanent physical education teacher at the school and providing training and exposure tours to teachers.

He also requested assistance in operating the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) centre at the school.

LG Mathur emphasised the need to focus on subject matter specialisation as the school is now affiliated with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). He stressed developing the personality of students through extra-curricular activities such as debate competitions, music workshops and exposure sessions, etc. He stressed the need for continuous evaluation of teachers and providing training to the teachers.

The need for regular evaluation of students to ascertain learning outcomes was also stressed. LG Mathur suggested that the Education Department may introduce the biometric attendance system to monitor the attendance of teachers.

He highlighted the importance of improving government schools in the long run through joint efforts of the Administration and Hill Council as well as all stakeholders.

Deputy Chairman, LAHDC Leh, Tsering Angchuk shared efforts made by Hill Council Leh to improve the quality of education in government primary schools.

Councillor, Sakti, Rigzin Tsering raised issues related to the development of his constituency, viz. relocation and up-gradation of the Primary Health Centre at Sakti with a dedicated Block Medical Officer (BMO), improving internet connectivity in Taknak and Tagar mohalla, renovation of irrigation canals and crop fields, creation of jobs at Govt Higher Secondary School in Sakti, approval for the detailed project report (DPR) for water lifting project at Warila and Changla, sanctioning a medical sub-centre for Taknak halqa, etc.

Sarpanch, Taknak halqa, Sonam Stobdan; Sarpanch, Tagar halqa, Tundup Dorjey; members of Village Education Committee (VEC), officials of Education Department and people from Sakti village were also present.