Srinagar: Minister for Education Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Wednesday emphasised for requisite parental control so that the children in Kashmir do not get astray from their academic ambitions. The Minister was on a day long tour of Batmaloo constituency where he inaugurated the newly constructed building for Government High School at Malroo.
Accompanied by Noor Mohammad Sheikh, MLA Batmaloo, senior officers of education and Public Works department, Bukhari visited various schools in the constituency where he took stock of infrastructural needs besides requirement of teaching and ministerial staff.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister for Education expressed his displeasure over the incidents of stone pelting and road-side agitations involving students of high and higher secondary schools.
“The students should have been busy and involved in academic and co curricular activities rather being chased by law enforcing agencies on the roads. This is really a displeasing situation which needs to be addressed through coordinated efforts of both teachers and parents,” Bukhari remarked.
Bukhari appealed students to return to their classes and not to waste their precious time on roads. “I fail to understand on whom they are pelting stones? Perhaps we live in one society and it is beyond once comprehension as who is pelting stones on whom?” he asked.
The Education Minister informed that the Government was prompt in its action against trespassing in Pulwama Degree College. “We ordered a time bound enquiry and completed it in 8 days. The government transferred SSP, SHO and one DySP was also shunted. Now what are other students demanding,” he said.
The Minister said that students have every right to express their aspirations and can protest as well but within the confines of their campuses.
“No one will touch them if they don’t come out of their institutes. I have no problem unless they come cross the premises of their institutions. Once they come on roads it becomes a law and order situation. This warrants law enforcement agencies to perform their duties,” he said.
Bukhari said that some outsiders try to exploit gullible students and try to create law and order problems under the garb of student protests.
“We have lost precious academic time last year. It hurts me as a father to see children not attending to their classes. I once again appeal them to go back to their schools and colleges and focus on their studies,” the Minister pleaded.
Bukhari reiterated his commitment to resolve the issues of students and the staff in schools. He appealed the students to approach him if they have any issues. “I am available any time to any student. I appeal them to approach me in person, on phone or through my email. We will try to address all issues jointly. How can we confront with our own children with the use of force when the matter of the fact is that we love them,” he said.
The double storied school building at Malroo for Government High School was built under the CAPEX budget (2015-2016), Educational (secondary) sector at the cost of Rs 223.43 lac.
On the occasion, MLA Batmaloo, Noor Mohammad Sheikh, solicited public cooperation to make government schools successful both in academics and co curricular activities.
On the demand of teachers and locality, the Minister approved on spot demands like Smart Class room, Kitchen, Laboratory, Computer room, Library, and a Herbal Garden at GHS Malroo.
He also approved the use of two rooms of community hall for Health Center which is otherwise running in an unsafe structure in Malroo.
Later, Bukhari visited various educational institutions in Malroo, Mujgund and the adjoining areas.
On his visit to Government Middle School, Khawaja Bagh, Malroo, which is currently running in three rooms, Bukhari asked CEO to make a proposal for three storied building of 9 classrooms for the improvement of education in the area.
At Government Middle School Chack Mujgund, the Minister directed R&B officers to start renovation of the existing building on fast track basis and handover the building to education department by October this year.
He also asked I&FC department to provide the fencing for the irrigation canal that passes within the school premises.
The minister visited Government Boys Higher Secondary Institute Mujgund where he said that Rs 2.66 crore is already earmarked under Tameer scheme and will be expedited by administrative department for the construction of three storied two buildings.
Bukhari also visited Under construction Hospital building at Mujgund which is being constructed at the cost of Rs 175 lacs. He asked the executing agency to expedite the construction work and complete the building in a time bound manner.
The Minister appreciated the people of Gund Hasibhat who donated 2.5 Kanals of land to Higher Secondary School and asked the officials to go for its fencing and also approved a computer lab for the school.
On his visit to Lawaypora, Bukhari announced upgradation of Government High School to Higher Secondary School level. He said that Rs 10 lacs for the construction of third storey of an adjacent building in the compound of GHS Lawaypora stands already released and additional funds shall be mobilized for the completion of the school. He directed the concerned officials to complete the construction work and handover the building to education department at an earliest.
Bukhari said that the female literacy is a priority area and will be taken to new heights in the state as the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti is keen towards the upliftment of women in the field of education as well as in other fields.
