Private Schools are partners in Progress, Architects of Educational Transformation: PSAJ&K
Srinagar: For decades, private schools in Jammu and Kashmir have remained the strongest pillars of our educational ecosystem and key stakeholders in social transformation. Beyond classrooms and curricula, these institutions have been engines of literacy, enlightenment, and empowerment, quietly but powerfully contributing to the peace process and nation-building, Private School Association Jammu and Kashmir, (PSAJ&K) said Monday.
From the remotest villages to bustling towns, private schools have ensured that education reaches every doorstep, complementing government efforts and filling gaps wherever the state machinery found it difficult to reach. The community of private educators, school owners, teachers, and parents together form a vibrant educational force that has helped shape generations of responsible, capable, and confident youth, its interim President Baba Nazrul Islam said during a press briefing here.
Yet, despite their undeniable contributions, numerous challenges remain unaddressed. The private education sector particularly budget schools that serve middle and lower-income families continues to face regulatory, financial, and procedural hurdles that undermine its sustainability and growth, he said.
While other key sectors like tourism, industry, and horticulture receive structured support, incentives, and facilitation including access to land, banking aid, single-window clearance systems, electricity, and infrastructure assistance the education sector, which directly builds the human resource base for all these industries, has remained largely unsupported, he added.
Streamlining NOCs and clearance processes under a single-window system will not only reduce unnecessary bureaucratic delays but also promote transparency, accountability, and ease of doing educational business a principle long advocated under the Prime Minister’s vision of “Minimum Government, Maximum Governance.”
Private schools must be seen not merely as institutions imparting lessons but as bridges between the government and the community channels through which the aspirations of families, teachers, and students find expression and realization. The Association firmly believes that the progress of society depends on a healthy collaboration between policymakers and practitioners, ensuring that every child, regardless of background, receives quality, affordable, and future-ready education, he said.
Our schools have consistently aligned their goals with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, embracing the spirit of reform and innovation. The NEP’s emphasis on critical thinking, creativity, experiential learning, and global readiness resonates deeply with our mission. We are committed to implementing its objectives in letter and spirit, helping our students evolves into globally competent citizens rooted in Indian values and ethics, Baba added.
The contribution of private schools is both visible and visionary. Thousands of teachers earn their livelihood through this sector. Millions of students find in these schools the hope of a better life. These institutions have been the backbone of educational equity, serving every segment of society without discrimination and often without state support.
We acknowledge and appreciate the ongoing reforms initiated by the administration under the dynamic leadership of the Lieutenant Governor, whose emphasis on transparency, accountability, and developmental inclusivity gives us renewed hope. We remain optimistic that the government will consider education as the cornerstone of all future progress and address the pending concerns of the private education community through sustained dialogue and partnership.
The Private Schools Association of Jammu & Kashmir (PSAJK) reiterates its unwavering commitment to quality, accountability, and nation-building. We continue to dedicate ourselves to empowering learners, strengthening teachers, engaging parents, and creating a generation equipped to face global challenges with confidence and compassion.
