CM Says Govt Schools Could Become Parents’ First Choice in Future
Addresses Educational Stakeholders Meet on NEP at SKICC; Distributes Appointment Orders under SRO-43, RRET, CPW
SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today stressed the need to elevate government schools to a standard where parents view them as the preferred choice for their children’s future.
He made these remarks while addressing a day-long Educational Stakeholders Meet on NEP 2020 – Challenges and Prospects in Jammu and Kashmir, organized by the Directorate of School Education Kashmir in collaboration with Bal Raksha Bharat (Save the Children) and supported by HCL Foundation at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC).
Speaking to a gathering of educationists, principals, Chief Education Officers, lecturers, teachers, and students, the Chief Minister said that education and health form the backbone of societal development. He noted that since taking office, his government has prioritized both sectors.
“I always say, keep everything else aside. Without education and health, we have nothing. Roads, bridges, factories, electricity, tourism—all are meaningless if we are not educated or healthy enough to benefit from them,” he said.
Highlighting the transformative power of education, he urged all stakeholders to work diligently to raise government schools to a level where parents consider them the best choice for their children. Quoting Nobel Laureate Nelson Mandela, he added, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,” emphasizing that this should guide all efforts in the education sector.
The Chief Minister also encouraged educators serving in remote areas to view it as an opportunity rather than a challenge, and called for the expansion of Hybrid Learning Centres to connect students in far-flung regions with subject-specialist teachers. He urged stakeholders to review the challenges faced in implementing NEP-2020 over the last five years and propose corrective measures.
Highlighting the importance of the meet, he asked participants to present about 10 actionable points that could form the roadmap for developing the education sector across Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking at the event, Education Minister Sakeena Itoo described education as the backbone of development and praised J&K for its progress in implementing NEP-2020, as recognized at the recently concluded State/UT Ministers Conference in New Delhi. Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Secretary School Education Ram Niwas Sharma, and Dr. Nidhi Pundir, Senior Vice President, Global CSR & Director, HCL Foundation, also addressed the gathering.
On the sidelines, the Chief Minister e-inaugurated a Hybrid Learning Centre at GBHSS Jawahar Nagar, connecting 12 schools for live interactive classes, and inaugurated 19 educational infrastructure projects worth Rs. 39.1 crore across Kashmir. He also distributed appointment orders under SRO-43, RRET, and CPW categories and launched the multilingual children’s book UDAAN (Bhasha Ke Rang Shiksha Ke Sang), prepared by JKSCERT.
