Governor NN Vohra today reviewed adherence to educational schedules and protection of students from involvement in law and order incidents in a meeting with Education Minister Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, vice chancellors of Kashmir-based universities and other senior officers.
The Governor reiterated his concern that the educational interests of the entire student community must be vigorously promoted and safeguarded and, under no circumstances, should the future careers of the student community be allowed to get exploited or jeopardised in any manner. In the context, he recalled the severe academic losses suffered during the prolonged agitations in 2016.
The Education Minister, vice chancellors and other participants spoke about the factors which had contributed to the involvement of students, even girls, in the recent protests and offered suggestions regarding the actions which needed to be taken.
The Governor stressed the responsibility cast upon the vice chancellors and faculties in the universities, and principals and teachers in colleges and schools, in counselling the students and effectively ensuring against any unhealthy influences adversely affecting the teaching schedules in all the educational institutions. He urged the Education Minister to ensure stepping up all required initiatives for providing sound counselling to students and enhancing meaningful interactions among the teachers, students, parents and even the local police officers. He advised the vice chancellors and their faculties to visit the affiliated colleges and assist the principals and the teaching staff to connect with the students, understand their demands and difficulties and ensure against any confrontational situations arising.
The Governor observed that it was the collective responsibility of the State Education Department, educational institutions, students, parents, civil and police administration and society at large to guide the youth, provide meaningful outlets for their expressions and enable them to understand the arising situations. He emphasised the importance of sports and extra-curricular activities and advised the school and higher education departments to frame an annual calendar of activities for organising inter-school, inter-college and inter-university sports meets, debates, trekking and picnic trips, excursions, educational tours, etc. He suggested the universities to also consider screening high- quality films and documentaries in their universities.
The Governor advised the vice chancellors to devote close attention to identify educational and training courses which had high employment potential in the existing and emerging job markets. They must critically examine the employability potential of all existing courses so that the passing out students did not remain indefinitely unemployed. In this context, he urged the Education Minister to secure a harmonious approach in setting up new courses in every institution with adequate critical assessment.
Bukhari apprised the Governor about the steps already taken by the school and higher education departments and the initiatives personally taken by him to see that students at all levels were protected from involvement in law and order incidents.
The vice chancellors apprised the Governor of the academic environment in their respective universities and the measures taken by them to ensure the welfare of their students.
Promote, Safeguard educational interests of students: Governor
