Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 1: Describing present age as the ‘Age of Knowledge and Excellence’, Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, today urged upon the institutes of higher learning to improve quality and become centres of placement where big and reputed firms from country and abroad come searching for talent.
He said education will be accorded top-most priority and new techniques in advanced learning will be incorporated in the curricula.
The Chief Minister said this while taking a firsthand appraisal of lower and higher educational institutes in Srinagar and Ganderbal districts today.
Minister for Education, Naeem Akhtar, MLA Ganderbal, Sheikh Ishfaq Jabbar, MLCs, Khursheed Alam & Yasir Reshi, former Minister and MLA, Qazi Afzal, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, B. B. Vyas, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Asgar Samoon, IGP, Kashmir, SJM Gillani, Director Education, Kashmir, Deputy Commissioners of Srinagar and Ganderbal, besides several senior officers of the Education Department accompanied the Chief Minister.
During his visit, Mufti Sayeed inspected the Central University, Ganderbal, Islamia College of Science & Commerce, Hawal, Sainik School, Manasbal, MP Higher Secondary School, Baba Demb and Girls Higher Secondary School, Nowhatta.
While visiting Central University, the Chief Minister observed that the University shall be constructed at Ganderbal only and all land and construction-related issues will be resolved on a fast-track basis to ensure time-bound completion of the prestigious project.
The Central University has been operating out of rented accommodation from Srinagar district.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Meraj-ud-Din briefed the Chief Minister about the issues confronting the University for its establishment at Ganderbal.
During his visit to Islamia College of Science & Commerce, Hawal, Mufti Sayeed said the institute has the potential to come up as an advanced school of excellence where students can get easily placed in reputed companies and firms in the country and also abroad.
The Chief Minister also called for establishing a Skill Development Institute to build upon innovative talent of artisans engaged in handicraft sector. He said he will soon convene the Governing Body meeting of the Islamia College so that the issues confronting the institute are resolved at an earliest.
Mufti Sayeed also asked the Principal of Islamia College to adopt Boys and Girls Higher Secondary schools, Zadibal, so that these are up-graded as Model Schools. He said the Government will introduce in a big way new concepts like smart classrooms and e-learning to bring the education sector at par with global benchmarks.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Education stressed upon the faculty members to carry forward the legacy of its great predecessors. Urging upon the College management to think out-of-box, Naeem Akhtar called for taking initiatives in starting courses in Craft Management from Hawal, Zadibal and other downtown areas which have been hubs of hand-made products in the Valley.
While visiting Sainik School at Manasbal, the Chief Minister said steps will be taken to develop the school as an Institution of Excellence. “I will soon convene the meeting of the Board of Governors of the School in this regard,” he added.
After being briefed about the academic and extra-curricular activities by the School Principal, Mufti Sayeed went around the premises and inspected the hostel building, classrooms and other facilities extended to the students. He also issued directions for increasing the stipend of the students.
The Chief Minister also visited Government Girls Higher School, Nowhatta, where he announced its up-gradation as Model School. He also passed directions for starting new stream in IT and establishing a smart room with computer lab.
MLC Khusheed Alam announced Rs. 30 lakh out of his Constituency Development Fund for upgrading the school as Model School.
Mufti Sayeed also announced up-gradation of MP Higher Secondary School, Baba Demb, as a Model School. The school has been made functional after it was badly damaged in floods of 2014.
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