In the National Educational Scenario, J&K State is subsumed as educationally backward in reference to the established  indices namely literacy rate, teacher pupil ratio , dropout rate and the absorption pattern of the educated persons. The disquieting features are low literacy rate, higher drop-out rate gender disparity, mismatch between education and employment.  The J&K State strictly adheres  to the National Education Policy and with the exponential growth of the institutional framework and reach of services as a consequence of sustained investment folio through plan strategy, improvement in every parameter is visible. The improvement is more pronounced in the field of girls literacy. Education is one of the most valuable means in achieving gender equality and empowerment of women.

The Education Department with broaden objectives of Universalization of Elementary Education, Extension of School facilities with in every school, development of infrastructure and providing incentive structure to improve enrolment and retention in implementing various schemes.

Initiatives taken to improve Elementary Education in J&K state

Since independence, the central and state governments have been expanding the provision of primary, formal and non-formal education to realize the goal of Universilisation of Elementary Education (UEE). The challenge now is to sustain and deepen current reforms in education and encourage local planning and management of strategies for expanding and improving Elementary education in the state. With a view to cushioning the impact of rising costs of text books the State Government is providing Free Text books to all the children reading in elementary classes though there was a provision of free text books to all girls and SC/ST children.

Removal of systemic deficiencies in the implementation of UEE and forging ahead necessitates the creation of informed public opinion and a facilitative environment akin to that of the Total Literacy Campaign. This has to be achieved through effective and sustained advocacy, massive community mobilization and awareness programmes. With this perspective, a national programme of media publicity and advocacy has been planned. The programme will target:  

I)     Teachers and all those involved in education of children.
II)     Students and parents of students, particularly non-literate parents; and
III)     Community opinion leaders

Several central and state level initiatives have been in operation from the early 1950’s. While the design of these projects vary substantially, all of them address the objectives and strategies of the National Policy on Education 1986 (NPE-86). They pay special attention to increasing girls’ enrolment, improving educational outcomes, strengthening community involvement, improving teaching and learning materials and providing in-service teacher training.