Visits Parivaar School, Army Goodwill School in Boniyar
Says students have clear career goals, commends quality education in remote areas
Boniyar : Television actress Hina Khan on Thursday praised the educational facilities and learning environment at Army-run schools in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, describing them as a model that could be replicated across the region.
Khan, who is currently visiting Kashmir, visited the Parivaar School run by the Indian Army and later the Army Goodwill School at Boniyar near the Line of Control (LoC). She interacted with students and teachers during her visit and took stock of the facilities and educational environment at the institutions.
Speaking to reporters after the visit, Hina said she was impressed by the confidence and clarity displayed by the students.“I was very happy to meet the students here and see their confidence level. I got to know a lot about the school infrastructure and how confident and intelligent the students are,” she said.
The actress said the students appeared clear about their ambitions and future careers, with some aspiring to become engineers and doctors.
“The students are very clear about what they want in life. Some want to do engineering, some want to become doctors. I loved the confidence and the way they are treated here,” Hinasaid.
Hina also credited the defence forces for providing educational facilities in border and remote areas at subsidised rates. She said the establishment of schools in relatively small and geographically difficult locations had expanded access to education for children living in such areas.
“Everything is subsidised, and I think the credit goes to the defence forces. The way they have planned so many schools in such small areas,” she said.
She also suggested that similar educational facilities could be considered in major urban centres so that more children could benefit from comparable infrastructure and teaching standards.
“I was telling them to do something like this in the main city so that children can get such good education with such good teachers,” she added.
Hina was particularly struck by the continuity of students’ association with the schools. She said that when she asked students how long they had been studying there, nearly all told her they had joined at the nursery level and continued through Classes 9 and 10.
“When I asked the kids how long they have been in school, almost 99 per cent of them told me they have been there since nursery. Today they are in 9th or 10th standard,” she said.
She also praised the students for their determination and encouraged them to maintain their ambition despite the challenges they may face in pursuing their goals.“We should maintain that desire. I know it’s a little difficult. But when you see the fruit of this difficulty, you will be very happy,” she said.
The actress also commended the Army’s role in managing the educational institutions and nurturing students in the region.
