Jammu/June,5: To tide over the challenges faced by the COVID19 pandemic and put a united front against some third party actors who are attempting to malign entire education sector for their ulterior motives, private schools in Jammu region, Pir Panchal and Chenab valley Friday came together to form an independent neutral ad hoc body of Private Schools under the banner of Private Schools Association of Jammu (PSAJ).
Bhupinder Singh will be the President Mr Shafeeq-Ul-Islam Wani Vice President of the Association. The decision to form the Association was taken during a meeting of stakeholders from all the three regions of Jammu division. Most of the school heads participated in the meeting through online mode.
The association will work together to face the challenges faced by private schools during the ongoing lockdown. The Association said that most of the private schools are under heavy financial stress and in some cases schools are on the verge of closure.
“The aim of forming the Association is to put forward the issues faced by the private schools in the region before the government and also channelise efforts to help parents whose income has been heavily impacted during the lockdown,” said the spokesperson of PSAJ.
The Association expressed its concern over various third party actors who are busy in defaming the private schools even during these trying times. “At a time when we are facing unprecedented lockdown, schools are closed and education sector as a whole is suffering, there are some unscrupulous elements who want to do their politics by attacking schools, educationists and government officials. They even go for personal attacks against school principals and government officials” said the spokesperson. “With protests in front of schools and offices, these people try to intimidate and harass the genuine stakeholders. The association has decided to confront such elements with facts and figures.”
The Association said that it will act as a bridge with school education department and resolve all issues faced by schools and parents alike. “The Association is committed to provide quality education to students even during these trying times. We will be working on the pattern of Private Schools Association of Kashmir headed by Mr G N Var. We are working on starting a scholarship for students whose family income has been heavily impacted by the lockdown. Every case will be scrutinised and provided with the scholarship,” said the spokesperson. “We will ensure that no student will have to suffer during the present times. We are already providing assignment and lessons to every student and the same will continue along with other additions from time to time.” It was also decided that the PSAJ will take the division level issues faced by schools in Jammu division with the directorate of school education Jammu and the PSAK will take similar issues with the directorate of school education Kashmir. Furthermore, the association will also work with its Kashmir based counterparts for raising major issues faced by entire education fraternity in Jammu and Kashmir.
The other office bearers elected were Ms Shilpa Mahajan, President District Jammu, Er Nirmaljit Singh, President District Kathua, Mr Varinder Slathia, President District Samba, Yograj Sharma, President District Udhampur, Mr Khurshid Bismil Advisor Jammu Division & President District Rajouri, Mr Waheed Banday, President Pirpanchal Division, Mr Hafizullah Khurwani, President Chenab Valley, Mr Raja Shahzad President District Poonch, Mr Shahab-ul- Haq Bhat President District Doda, Mr Malik Mohd Azhar President District Kishtwar, Mr S A Wani, President District Ramban, Mr Pradeep Singh President District Reasi. Ms AR Verma, State Secretary, Mr Hafiz ur Rahman, Coordinator Jammu Division and Mr Vikram Pal Singh as PRO
