STATE TIMES NEWS
SRINAGAR: Terming the ongoing reforms in the Education Department as ‘Peoples Movement’, Minister for Education, Naeem Akhtar, on Thursday credited the Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed for his visionary approach and devout efforts aimed at securing the future of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Mufti stood by me like a rock when we started reforming the redundant education system in the State. It is his dream to remove the restlessness in our hearts and minds, and to revive the glorious academic culture in J and K which has left imprints across the globe,” Akhtar said.
Akhtar was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of Chief Minister’s Super-50 Free Winter Tutorial at Government Girls High School, Hyderpora where 10th and 12th standard students will be provided free coaching with state-of-art facilities like Central Heating System and free Wi-Fi.
“In our hearts, we know that we are not politicking for headlines or vote-bank, but to secure the future of our coming generations,” the Minister, who broke down during his speech, said.
Calling upon the people of J&K to claim ownership of the government-run schools, Akhtar said; “It is not the education minister or the state government which funds the education system. The money comes out of your pockets in the form of taxes and you should claim ownership of government schools in order to bring accountability into the system.”
Akhtar said under the CM’s Super-50 initiative, the Department of Education will also provide free coaching for medical and engineering entrance exams both at the state and national level. “In the world where there are no barriers for the talented and the intelligent, why are we lagging behind? We came with the slogan of change, and as a part of this movement for change we are preparing an environment for transforming the education system,” he said.
“I can’t quantify our achievements but this school is a symbol of change that the state of Jammu and Kashmir will usher into in coming years,” he added.
Akhtar said the Chief Minister has stressed on freeing the students of J and K from psychological barriers that have made them to hanker after casual labourers’ and other small-time jobs.
“It is the dream of Mufti to free out student community from such frauds of politicians. We will rediscover Kashmir and our students will shine in the sky where Gani Kashmiri, Sheikh Hamza Makhdoomi (RA) and Abhinav Gupt are shining,” he said, while praying for the Chief Minister speedy recovery.
Recalling the sorry plight of the Education Department after he took over as its Minister, Akhtar said a fraud was being played on the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the hapless students in the name of education.
“Our department was all about transfers, appointments and promotions but I didn’t keep things hidden from public. A wrong perception has been created about teachers, which is being corrected. The parents, teachers and schools are willing to become part of the change that the department is undergoing,” he said.
Urging people to join hands for a better tomorrow, Akhtar said: “You can fight over ideologies or political agendas, but education is a stream which can connect people, communities and regions because it is our common agenda,” he said.
Akhtar said the year 2016 will be celebrated as the ‘Year of Expression’ by the Education Department, “We have started different language courses as value addition to academic qualification of students. The Education Department has the most under-utilized infrastructure and we are trying to put it to optimal use,” he said.
Earlier talking to media-persons on the sidelines of the function, Akhtar accused opposition national Conference of politicizing the implementation of National Food Security Act (NFSA) in Jammu and Kashmir.
“The state of Jammu and Kashmir was brought under the ambit of new Food Act by the National Conference-led coalition government. Now when the time has come for its implementation, the NC leaders are running away,” Akhtar said and added that the new Food Act has extended benefits of subsidized ration to cover more population in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Despite the propaganda of the opposition parties, the new Food Act is not only going to benefit the people of Jammu and Kashmir but it will also curtail subsidies enjoyed by the affluent people, thereby benefitting the public exchequer,” he said.
The Minister for R&B, Floriculture, Parks and Gardens, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, IG (Kashmir), SJM Gilani, Political Analyst in Chief Minister’s Office, Waheed-ur-Rehman Para, Director School Education Kashmir, Shah Faesal and officers of the Education Department were present on the occasion.
