Minister for Education, Social Welfare, Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo today chaired a meeting with Civil Society Members as well as representatives of Private Schools Association and Parents Association, non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders to discuss key issues concerning the school education sector and explore measures for improving the quality, transparency and overall functioning of the education system in Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting witnessed detailed deliberations on a range of issues, including the availability and pricing of textbooks, freedom of choice for parents in purchasing books and uniforms, academic coordination between government and private schools, timely preparation for the commencement of the new academic session, issues related to school recognition and No Objection Certificates (NOCs), verification procedures and other concerns raised by the stakeholders.
Commissioner Secretary, School Education, Ram Niwas Sharma; Chairman JKBOSE, Director School Education Jammu/Kashmir, Secretary JKBOSE, other senior officers of school education department were also present on the occasion.
Addressing the participants, the Minister appreciated the constructive suggestions put forth by representatives from both Jammu and Kashmir divisions and underscored the need for sustained engagement among all stakeholders to address the concerns of students, parents and educational institutions.
She emphasised that the primary objective of both government and private educational institutions should be to ensure the delivery of quality education and provide students with an enabling environment for academic excellence, holistic development and future success.
“The objective should not be to compare government schools with private institutions, but to work collectively towards providing quality education to every child. Both sectors have made significant contributions to the education system, and their respective strengths must be acknowledged and further strengthened,” the Minister said.
Sakeena Itoo said that the government is committed to strengthening public education while also recognising the important role played by private schools in expanding educational opportunities. She called for greater coordination, mutual understanding and institutional cooperation to ensure that the interests of students remain paramount.
“Government has made concerted efforts in coordination to streamline the system and address longstanding administrative and academic issues”, she said.
She acknowledged the role of departmental officers and the leadership of the concerned educational institutions in resolving pending matters and bringing greater efficiency to the functioning of the education sector.
Emphasising the importance of advance planning for the academic session, the Minister said that necessary preparations concerning textbooks, syllabus and other academic requirements must be undertaken well in advance, particularly in view of the proposed commencement of the new academic session in November.
She directed the concerned officers to examine the issues raised during the meeting and take appropriate measures to ensure timely resolution of matters falling within their jurisdiction.
The Minister also called for the constitution of a representative committee comprising members of Private Schools Associations, Parents’ Associations, selected NGOs and officers of the Education Department to examine issues affecting the functioning of private schools and recommend practical measures for improving transparency, accountability and coordination.
She asked the Commissioner Secretary, School Education, to formulate a proposal for the committee at the earliest, incorporating suitable representation from all relevant stakeholders, so that the proposed mechanism could be made functional without unnecessary delay.
On the issue of textbooks and school uniforms, Sakeena Itoo stressed that parents must be provided the freedom to purchase books and other essential educational material from vendors of their choice. She made it clear that there should be no compulsion on parents to purchase books from a particular bookseller or publisher, and that any concerns regarding pricing, availability or other related practices must be addressed through appropriate institutional mechanisms.
The Minister urged private school managements to exercise greater responsibility in addressing such complaints and maintaining public confidence in their institutions. She observed that isolated instances of irregularities could adversely affect the reputation of the entire education sector and, therefore, required timely attention and corrective action.
She also stressed the need for private educational institutions to follow applicable rules and regulations in matters concerning the engagement and service conditions of teaching staff, while ensuring fairness, stability and respect for the contribution of teachers to the education system.
Referring to the similarities between the syllabi followed by government and private schools, the Minister called upon the concerned authorities to examine areas where greater academic coordination and uniformity could be achieved, in accordance with the applicable curriculum and academic framework.
She said that both sectors must complement each other’s efforts rather than work in isolation, adding that the collective responsibility of all stakeholders was to improve learning outcomes and ensure better educational opportunities for children.
The Minister also took note of concerns regarding the processing of NOCs and other procedural requirements for private schools. She reiterated the need to simplify administrative procedures, improve coordination among the concerned offices and ensure that eligible cases are dealt with efficiently and transparently.
The Minister also referred to issues concerning lease-related matters and the functioning of the Fee Fixation and Regulation Committee. She said that the government had taken steps, wherever feasible, to safeguard students’ academic interests, including facilitating extensions to prevent students from missing examinations due to pending issues. She added that the remaining matters would be examined in accordance with the applicable legal and administrative framework.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to the welfare of students, Sakeena Itoo said that every effort would be made to address genuine concerns and strengthen the education system through transparent, accountable and consultative mechanisms.
She called upon all stakeholders to work in close coordination with the Education Department and contribute towards creating a more responsive, equitable and student-centric educational environment across Jammu and Kashmir.
