Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said that shaping the future of children is a collective responsibility of the government, parents and teachers, asserting that the burden cannot be placed on teachers alone.
Addressing a day-long education conference organised by the J&K Teachers Forum at SKICC, Srinagar, Omar said teachers play a crucial role in determining the future of children, but expecting them to shoulder the entire responsibility would be unfair.
The conference, themed “Child is Our Priority”, brought together educators, policymakers, researchers and teachers to discuss challenges facing the education sector and explore ways to strengthen learning outcomes.
The Chief Minister observed that the teaching profession has changed significantly over the years, with educators now facing challenges that did not exist a decade or two ago. He said teachers today compete for students’ attention with smartphones, social media, television and artificial intelligence, making their role more demanding than ever.
He also highlighted the growing challenge posed by artificial intelligence, noting that teachers often find it difficult to determine whether assignments submitted by students are their own work or generated with AI assistance.
Referring to former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam’s views on education, Omar said both parents and teachers play a key role in shaping young minds and building a better society.
The Chief Minister acknowledged that teachers are frequently assigned duties beyond classroom teaching, including participation in cultural programmes, awareness campaigns and election-related work, which adds to their workload.
Assuring the teaching community of government support, he said issues related to transfers, departmental promotions, vacancies and other service matters would be addressed. He said the government, along with Education Minister Sakeena Itoo, would work to resolve genuine concerns of teachers.
Omar also drew attention to the difficulties faced by teachers posted in remote and rural areas, stressing the need to support those working under challenging conditions. He pointed to disparities in teacher distribution, with some urban schools having surplus staff while remote institutions continue to face shortages.
Highlighting infrastructure gaps in the education sector, the Chief Minister said providing adequate facilities and filling vacancies is the government’s responsibility. He noted that some schools still function from rented or unsafe buildings and said efforts are underway to improve infrastructure across Jammu and Kashmir.
He urged teachers to help students identify their aspirations and prepare them for a rapidly changing world, stressing that the education system must equip children with the skills, confidence and values needed to contribute positively to society.
“The future of our children is not the responsibility of teachers alone. Teachers can succeed only when the government creates the right environment for them to work,” Omar said.
He also reiterated the government’s commitment to pursuing issues related to the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) and other educational concerns with the aim of improving learning standards in Jammu and Kashmir.
Education Minister Sakeena Itoo and Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani also addressed the conference, highlighting the role of teachers in society and outlining initiatives undertaken by the Omar Abdullah-led government in the education sector.
