Srinagar/May,10: Minister for Education Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Wednesday emphasized for requisite parental and societal counseling so that the youth do not go astray and miss on education.
The Minister said this while interacting with people during his day long tour of Batamaloo constituency where he inaugurated the newly constructed building for Government High School Malroo.
Accompanied by Noor Mohammad Sheikh, MLA Batamaloo, senior officers of education and Public Works departments, the Minister visited various schools in the area where he took stock of infrastructural needs besides requirement of teaching and ministerial staff.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister expressed dismay and surprise over the recurrent and engineered incidents of stone pelting and road-side agitations involving students of high and higher secondary schools. “The students should have been busy and involved in academic and co-curricular activities rather being chased by law enforcing agencies on the roads. This is really a dismaying and disturbing situation which needs to be addressed through coordinated and vigilant efforts of teachers, parents and the society,” Bukhari remarked.
Bukhari appealed students to return to their classes and not to waste their precious academic time on roads. “I fail to understand on whom they are pelting stones? Perhaps we live in one society and it is beyond one’s comprehension as who is pelting stones on whom?” he asked and added that the time has come for the people to ponder over the prevailing scenario where a whole generation is being pushed into academic disempowerment.
The Education Minister informed that the Government was prompt in its action against trespassing in Pulwama Degree College. “We ordered a time bound enquiry and completed it in 8 days and it was followed up with tangible action. I fail to understand why are the students now on roads?,” he said.
The Minister said the students have every right to seek redress of their grievances through peaceful protest. “I have no problem if they protest peacefully for genuine issues and I am here to listen to their grievances,” the Minister said and added that by coming out on the roads and pelting stones on unsuspecting citizens, the students are doing no good either to themselves or to the society. He said some outsiders try to exploit the gullible students and try to create law and order problems under the garb of student protests.
“We have lost precious academic time last year. It hurts me as a father to see children not attending to their classes. I once again appeal them to go back to their schools and colleges and focus on their studies instead of pushing themselves into darkness,” the Minister pleaded.
Bukhari reiterated his commitment to resolve the issues of students and the staff in schools. He appealed the students to approach him if they have any issues. “I am available any time to any student. I appeal them to approach me in person, on phone or through email. We will try to address all issues jointly. How can we confront with our own children with the use of force when the matter of the fact is that we love them,” he said.
The double storied school building of Government High School Malroo, inaugurated by the Minister, was constructed at a cost of Rs 2.23 crore.
On the occasion, MLA Batamaloo, Noor Mohammad Sheikh, solicited public cooperation to make government schools successful both in academics and co-curricular activities.
On the demand of teachers and locality, the Minister approved on spot demands like Smart Classroom, Kitchen, Laboratory, Computer room, Library, and a Herbal Garden for GHS Malroo.
He also approved the use of two rooms of community hall for Health Center which is otherwise running in an unsafe structure in Malroo.
Later, Bukhari visited various educational institutions in Malroo, Mujgund and the adjoining areas.
During his visit to Government Middle School, Khawaja Bagh, Malroo, which is currently running in three rooms, Bukhari asked CEO Srinagar to make a proposal for three storied building of 9 classrooms for the improvement of education in the area.
At Government Middle School Chack Mujgund, the Minister directed R&B officers to start renovation of the existing building on fast track basis and handover the building to education department by October this year.
He also asked I&FC department to provide the fencing for the irrigation canal that passes within the school premises.
The minister visited Government Boys Higher Secondary Institute Mujgund where he said Rs 2.66 crore is already earmarked under TAMIER scheme and will be expedited by administrative department for the construction of three storied two buildings.
Bukhari also visited under construction Hospital building at Mujgund which is being constructed at a cost of Rs 1.75 crore. He asked the executing agency to expedite the construction work and complete the building in time bound manner.
The Minister appreciated the people of Gund Hasibhat who donated 2.5 Kanals of land to Higher Secondary School and asked the officials to go for its fencing and also approved a computer lab for the school.
On his visit to Lawaypora, Bukhari announced upgradation of Government High School to Higher Secondary School level. He said Rs 10 lakh for the construction of third storey of an adjacent building in the compound of GHS Lawaypora stands already released and additional funds shall be mobilized for the completion of the school. He directed the concerned officials to complete the construction work and handover the building to education department at an earliest.
Bukhari said the female literacy is a priority area and will be taken to new heights in the state as the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti is keen towards the upliftment of women in the field of education as well as in other fields.
