Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 21: Jammu and Kashmir Private Schools Coordination Committee (JKPSCC) in collaboration with Regional Centre for Expertise United Nation University (RCE-UNU) organized 2nd State Level Annual Conference on the topic “Role of Private Schools in Education for Sustainable Development”, here today..
Minister for Education , Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, Minister for Forests, Ecology and Environment Choudhary Lal Singh, Minister of State for Education, Tourism and Culture Priya Sethi besides Secretary School Education Farooq Ahmed Shah, Chairperson Board of School Education Veena Pandita, Director School Education Jammu, S Ravinder Singh and representatives of Private Schools Coordination Committee attended the conference.
Speaking on the occasion, Altaf Bukhari asked the teaching fraternity to provide quality education and inculcate moral values in students so that they become responsible citizens of the country. He said that the Government has decided to introduce music and fine arts subject at Higher Secondary level in addition to string of reforms to improve the school education at all levels with special focus on improvement of elementary education. He said that special focus has been laid on introduction of new range of subjects to make school education more vibrant and broad-based.
Responding to the issues projected by the representatives of the private schools, the Minister said that Government was serious in solving the issues of private schools. He said that private schools have a key role in education system and Government is making all out efforts to provide full support to the schools.
In his address, Choudhary Lal Singh asked the teaching fraternity to provide quality education to the students adding that they are the main architect in shaping the personality of the students. He further said that it is firm commitment of the Government to ensure that this vital sector gets a fillip in all aspects as it forms the basis of a strong nation. He exhorted upon the school authorities to make sure that their institution serves as a vibrant center of excellence.
Appreciating role of private schools in spreading education, Choudhary Lal Singh said the private education institutes have done commendable job in providing quality education in the State and some of the institutes have made their name in spreading the light of education.
MoS Education Priya Sethi said that Government is keen to provide better education for which a comprehensive plan has been formulated to improve the education standard in the State. She said that Government is making all out efforts to improve education scenario across the State with quality education and latest techniques and infrastructural facilities. She said that education sector has played vital role in shaping the personality of the nation builders.
Commissioner Secretary Farooq Ahmad Shah assured full support to the private schools.
Earlier, Dr Hari Dutt Shishu, working president of JKPSCC, informed that this conference was aimed to provide a platform to bring all stakeholders and also the Government functionaries at one platform to have an interaction that will determine the future growth of the private schools in the State for the education for sustainable development.
Rameshwar Manhas, president JKPSCC, presented a detailed report of the issues of the private schools and impressed upon the Govt to ensure proper resolutions for the sustainability of the schools in the State.
Various heads of the Private schools made presentations in the seminar and explained the contribution of the private schools to the society. They also highlighted the problems being faced by the private schools by different Government orders and SROs and requested the Minister to immediately review it.
Those, who made presentations, included Gambir Charak (MD Dogra Academy), Sanjeet Sharma (general secretary JKPSCC) and other.