ANANTNAG, Jun 27: The Private Schools’ Association (PSA) organised a grand School Leaders’ Conference and Felicitation Ceremony for the newly elected representatives of District Anantnag at Dak Bangla, Verinag, on Saturday, bringing together school owners, newly elected Zonal Presidents, Zonal Secretaries and senior representatives from educational institutions across the district.
The conference marked the first major event organised by the newly elected District Anantnag leadership after assuming office and served as a platform for interaction between the Central Executive Body and grassroots representatives to deliberate on challenges confronting the private education sector and formulate a collective roadmap for the future.
The event was attended by PSA Chief Patron and NISA Joint Secretary Dr. G.N. Var and Chairman, PSA Pir Panjal Range and Chenab Valley Division, Khurshid Bismal, as chief guests. Also present were PSA State President Bilal Ahmad Bhat, Senior Vice President Manzoor Ahmad Rather, General Secretary (Organisation) Mohammad Syed Wani, members of the Central Executive Body, District Executive Body and representatives from various educational zones.
A special felicitation ceremony was organised in honour of Khurshid Bismal in recognition of his contribution towards strengthening the private education sector in Jammu and Kashmir. District Anantnag office bearers presented him with mementoes and bouquets, describing his visit as an inspiration for the educational fraternity.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. G.N. Var stressed that the foremost responsibility of every educational institution is to provide quality education while ensuring that infrastructure remains secondary to the objective of meaningful learning.
“The primary focus of every school must be academics and meaningful learning. Buildings and infrastructure are important, but they should never overshadow the fundamental purpose of education, which is to develop knowledgeable, responsible and morally upright human beings,” he said.
Expressing concern over the present education system, Dr. Var observed that it had gradually drifted away from its original purpose, leading to increasing moral and social challenges.
“Our education system has unfortunately deviated from its true mission. This is reflected in the increasing challenges confronting society today, whether it is the decline of moral values, weakening of character, corruption or the alarming rise of drug abuse,” he said, adding that educational institutions must introspect and address these shortcomings.
He emphasised that education must remain child-centric irrespective of whether students study in government or private schools.
“Every child deserves child-centric education. Whether a student studies in a government school or a private school, the objective of education must remain the same—to nurture knowledge, values, confidence, leadership and character,” he remarked.
Highlighting the difficulties faced by private educational institutions, Dr. Var expressed concern over the increasing regulatory burden, particularly the requirement of obtaining multiple No Objection Certificates (NOCs).
“The private education sector is passing through one of its most difficult phases. The burden of obtaining multiple NOCs has forced dozens of private schools to close over the past three years, affecting the education of thousands of students. Education should be encouraged, not burdened,” he said while urging the Government to introduce policy reforms and create a transparent and supportive environment for private schools.
He reiterated that PSA believes in constructive engagement with the Government.
“Private schools are knowledge partners in nation-building. We do not stand in opposition to the Government; rather, we seek to complement and support its efforts. If the Government ensures a level playing field, the ultimate beneficiaries will be students and society,” he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Chairman Pir Panjal Range and Chenab Valley Division Khurshid Bismal presented a comprehensive vision for the future role of the Association.
“Education is the foundation upon which every progressive, civilised and prosperous society is built. True education does not merely impart information; it develops character, responsibility, wisdom and social consciousness,” he said.
Bismal expressed concern over the growing moral and educational crisis and called upon schools to focus equally on character formation alongside academic excellence.
“Education without character is incomplete. Schools must dedicate time every day for value-based education, respect for parents, honesty, patriotism, service to humanity and ethical conduct so that students succeed not only in examinations but also in life,” he said.
Raising concern over the increasing menace of drug abuse, he urged institutions to establish permanent systems for awareness, counselling, teacher training and early intervention to protect students.
He also advocated skill-based education, saying the future belongs to innovation, entrepreneurship and practical skills.
“The future belongs to skills, innovation and entrepreneurship. Schools must equip students with communication skills, digital literacy, problem-solving abilities, creativity and entrepreneurial thinking so they become job creators rather than job seekers,” Bismal said.
He further proposed several institutional reforms, including a common educational vision, continuous teacher training, stronger parent-school partnerships, structured counselling programmes, character-building initiatives and the establishment of a network-based crisis response mechanism to assist schools during emergencies.
PSA State President Bilal Ahmad Bhat congratulated the newly elected office bearers and called upon them to work with dedication, transparency and unity.
“The strength of the Association lies in the unity of its members. Our collective responsibility is to safeguard the dignity of private schools, protect students’ interests and ensure that quality education reaches every child across Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
Senior Vice President Manzoor Ahmad Rather emphasised educational excellence, organisational discipline and close coordination between the Central and District leadership to effectively address the challenges faced by private schools.
General Secretary (Organisation) Mohammad Syed Wani stressed the importance of organisational cohesion and grassroots connectivity, saying strong communication and collective responsibility were essential for effectively representing the concerns of schools before the Government.
The conference witnessed interactive discussions on regulatory issues, academic reforms, teacher capacity building, student welfare, policy advocacy and future organisational strategies. Newly elected Zonal Presidents and Secretaries reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the Association through unity and coordinated efforts.
The programme concluded with a formal vote of thanks by District Coordinator Anantnag Aijaz Ahmad Wani, who expressed gratitude to the Central leadership, distinguished guests, school managements and participants for making the conference a success.
He said the enthusiastic participation reflected the educational fraternity’s shared commitment to strengthening the private education sector and reaffirmed the Association’s resolve to ensure quality, value-based and future-oriented education for every child across Jammu and Kashmir.
The conference concluded with a collective pledge by all participants to work in close coordination for the long-term growth and strengthening of the private education sector across the Union Territory.