More steps needed to take J&K students to next level of education: CM Omar Abdullah

STC NEWS DESK
SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 23 (STC): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said more steps are needed to take the students to the next level of education and keep them connected to school, as “this is of fundamental importance to secure the future of the children”. He appreciated the excellent performance of the children participating in the competition, especially their ability to solve complex arithmetic questions mentally.
He was addressing a function held at the Sher Kashmir International Convention Centre.
Omar Abdullah, recalling his school days in a light-hearted manner, said that if he had been given a calculator, he might not have been able to find the answers as quickly as these children. He said that mathematics has always been a difficult subject for him and even just passing it was a big achievement for him.
The Chief Minister appreciated the performance of the children and said that from what he has seen today, he is confident that these children will be successful in whatever field they choose in life. He also prayed for more success for the children.
“Today’s children face more distractions than previous generations. Multiple television channels, mobile phones and various digital platforms attract the attention of children, due to which maintaining their interest in any one activity has become a big challenge. In the past there were limited channels on television, but today there are dozens of channels along with mobile phones and other digital means, so keeping children focused on any one goal has become more difficult than before,” Omar Abdullah said. He appreciated the role of parents and teachers in bringing children to this point and said that due to their hard work and guidance, children are being able to successfully participate in national level competitions. He said that education and health are the basis of development and if there is no significant progress in these two sectors, the fruits of investment in other sectors will also be limited.
“The biggest responsibility of the government is to focus on the education and health systems and further improve both sectors. On this basis, the children of Jammu and Kashmir will be able to compete not only at the national but also at the international level, the CM said.
The Chief Minister also stressed the need to continue the educational journey of students in Jammu and Kashmir and reduce the school dropout rate. He said that Jammu and Kashmir performs well at the primary and middle school levels, however, there is a decline in the educational continuity of students as they reach the high and higher secondary levels.
He said that more steps are needed to take students to the next stage of education and keep them connected to school, as this is of fundamental importance to secure the future of children. According to him, the government has also passed a bill related to private universities so that students can get more opportunities for higher education in Jammu and Kashmir itself. Stressing the need to prepare students according to the requirements of the future, the Chief Minister said that new fields that are emerging rapidly, including artificial intelligence, need to be made a part of the educational curriculum. He said that the world is changing rapidly and the education system also has to adapt to these changes, so that the students of Jammu and Kashmir can effectively face the opportunities and challenges of the new era.
He encouraged the students and said that whether they are the ones who will win the trophy or not, reaching this far and participating in the competition is an achievement. He congratulated all the students, parents and teachers. He said that after seeing the performance of the children today, he is convinced that the future of Jammu and Kashmir is bright.
(Straight Talk Communications)