NEW DELHI: Advisor to Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani on Saturday called for greater collaboration between government and private educational institutions to strengthen the education sector in Jammu and Kashmir, with a focus on improving resource utilisation, teacher deployment and skill-based learning.
Addressing the 13th School Choice National Conference in New Delhi, Wani said education and healthcare remained key priorities of the government, adding that educational institutions must focus not only on imparting knowledge but also on equipping students with skills required for employment.
Highlighting the extensive network of government schools across Jammu and Kashmir, including in remote areas, he said investment in infrastructure alone would not address existing challenges. He stressed the need to rationalise teacher deployment, address disparities in teacher-student ratios and improve enrolment and retention, particularly in rural areas.
Wani said government and private schools should complement each other rather than compete, and called for a mechanism to facilitate the sharing of infrastructure and resources. He suggested utilising surplus classrooms in both sectors to optimise existing facilities and improve enrolment.
Referring to the National Education Policy (NEP), he emphasised the need to strengthen vocational and skill-based education, particularly for students from economically weaker sections, to improve their employability and prepare them for the job market.
He also referred to the government’s trust-based approach under its Ease of Doing Business initiative, saying simplified procedures could encourage greater private participation in the education sector.
Wani invited investors and educational institutions to explore opportunities for establishing private universities and other higher education institutions in Jammu and Kashmir, following the opening up of opportunities for private universities in the Union Territory.
