A meeting to discuss the issues involved in making educational institutions, particularly schools, functional in the Kashmir Valley was held under the chairmanship of Governor N.N. Vohra at the Raj Bhavan here today.Mr. Naeem Akhter, Minister for Education; Mr. P.K. Tripathi, Principal Secretary to Governor; Dr. Khurshid Iqbal Andrabi, Vice Chancellor, University of Kashmir; Prof. Nazeer Ahmed, Vice-Chancellor, SKUAST-K; Prof. Mehraj-ud-Din, Vice Chancellor, Central University of Kashmir; Prof. Mushtaq A. Siddiqi, Vice Chancellor, Islamic University of Sciences & Technology; Awantipora; Mr. Shaleen Kabra, Commissioner School Education; and Dr. Shah Faesal, Director, School Education, Kashmir, participated in the meeting.The Governor expressed serious concern over the irreparable damage suffered by students at all levels, particularly school students, from the closure of the entire educational system due to prevailing unrest in the Kashmir Province. The Minister briefed the Governor about the prevailing functional status of the educational institutions in the Valley.
The Vice-Chancellors also brought out the situation in respect of their Universities and the meeting deliberated the various possible steps which could be taken to make up for the loss in studies. Issues relating to making the educational system functional in the next few days were also discussed.Minister for Education, Mr. Akhter, accepted the Governor’s suggestion that the Departments of School and Higher Education shall work out a plan of action for every possible step being taken to make up for the loss of working days in the schools and regarding the schedules of the forthcoming examinations at all levels.The Governor and the Minister complimented the Vice Chancellors of the Universities for their students and teachers securing prestigious national and international fellowships and expressed satisfaction that the number of such fellowships has been improving from year to year. The Vice Chancellors also apprised the Governor and the Minister about to-date status of admissions in the present Academic Session.During discussions, the Governor and the Minister stressed the need to critically identify and devote sustained attention towards the planned improvement of the quality of school and higher education to ensure that the entire learning process is made more relevant, interesting and meaningful.