Applauding the role of private educational institutes in the state Minister for School Education, Haj and Auqaf and Tribal Affairs Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali acknowledged that the private schools have played a phenomenal role in the disseminating quality education in the region.The Minister expressed these views at prize giving ceremony of the winners of State level Naat Competition, organized by private schools association earlier during the day in the Auditorium of Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR).Explaining the purpose of schooling, the Minister said that teachers from public as well as private sectors need to understand that the core purpose of schooling is to endow the students with the best knowledge. Such should be the preparation that our students should be able compete in today’s competitive jobs market, the Minister added.The Minister said as a part of developed society it becomes the responsibility of education providing institutions to promote the best habits with independent thought among their students. He said instead of imposing things, need of the hour is to let the children discover their strengths, and to make the most of their talents.Zulfkar Ali acknowledged that to achieve the desired results, public and private sectors need to work in synergy. He said the frequent exchange of ideas between government and private school associations would surely help in raising the education standards in the State.
He said no one can deny the significant role private schools have and are still playing in strengthening the State’s education sector. He admitted that it is with the ongoing support from the private schools that the Governments in the past and even in the present times has managed to provide quality education the students of the State.Reiterating the need to work hard, the Minister said everyone, public as well as private schools need to reinvent themselves and their image among the masses.He said everyone is well aware with the fact that while private schools are doing a social service by providing education, they are also required to generate revenue for themselves as it is a business venture where a person who has invested needs to get returns. But, he added, there needs to be a reasonable balance between the two.Secretary School Education Farooq Shah, Director School Education Kashmir G N Itoo, president private school association G N Var, along with the representatives of other schools were present in the function.