Sr Counsel Zaffar Shah asks schools to brace up for future challenges, focus on Child Centric education

Srinagar: A meeting of Working Council of Private Schools Association of Jammu and Kashmir (PSAJK) was on Monday addressed by Senior Counsel Zaffar Shah and the members deliberated on various issues facing the education sector.
Zaffar Shah while addressing the meeting said that Schools should introspect whether they are preparing the students for 21st century and are our schools equipped to deal with future challenges. “With regards to government norms, any disparity there can be challenged in court of law. I am ready to legally counsel schools and ready to help and suggest remedial measures to their problems. I will help them so that child centric education and overall quality of education is strengthened,” said Shah. Meanwhile the working council welcomed various initiatives of government to strengthen education sector. The council said that PSAJK will support all such initiatives which are aimed to provide quality education to students.
The Council decided that the managing committee of PSAJK will approach government for devising a Public-Private model so as to help around 22000 students who had to return back to Kashmir from outside due to COVID lockdown. “The council suggested that government should utilise the space and resources at around 800 higher secondary schools to help the returnee students. The infrastructure in these Higher Secondary schools should be upgraded and they should be allowed to start selected degree courses, so that our students won’t unnecessarily have to move outside for these degrees,” said a spokesperson of PSAJK. Upto higher secondary level, private schools should be encouraged and they should be given initiatives. The council said that it was this private sector which kept the flame of education burning in 90s and in present circumstances they can also help at higher education level. “It is high time government acknowledges the role of private schools and take steps to further strengthen their role at higher classes,” said the spokesperson. “Government should announce help to private schools on the pattern of Economic Revival Committee of Sick Units so that they can tide over the present crisis.”
The Council also appealed the parents to clear dues of their wards so that thousands of private school employee get regular salary. The council welcomed the forming of committee headed by advisor to the Lt Governor to work out modalities for the economic revival and extending support to its business community. “The education sector has been worst hit since August 2019 and we seek meeting with the committee so that we can present our problems and give recommendations for the redressal,” said the spokesperson