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| J&K-PSA Represents Jammu & Kashmir In National-Level Deliberations On Education Policy & School Development | |
Srinagar, November 01 (Scoop News)-The conference brought together leading educationists, policymakers, researchers and public administration experts from across the country to deliberate on the changing needs, emerging challenges and future direction of school education in India. Organised by the Centre for Civil Society, the 13th School Choice National Conference was held at FICCI, Federation House, New Delhi.
The conference focused on the theme “Economics of Education.” Participants discussed education funding, affordability, equal access to quality education, the long-term sustainability of educational institutions and effective policies to improve learning outcomes. The discussions highlighted the need for a more inclusive, transparent and sustainable education system through better policies, new ideas and cooperation among the government, schools, educators, parents and other stakeholders.
The conference brought together several prominent personalities, including Nasir Aslam Wani, Advisor to the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir; V. Vualnam, IAS, Union Secretary, Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, GOI; Dr. Amit Chandra, CEO, Centre for Civil Society; Dr. Parth J. Shah, Founder President, Centre for Civil Society; Dr. Kulbhushan Sharma, National President, National Independent Schools Alliance (NISA); Dr Parth J. Shah Founder CCS & Indian School of Public Policy; Gurcharan Das, India's foremost author and public intellectual; Prof Geenta Gandhi Kingdom, University College of London & President City Montessori School Lucknow; Sanjay Kumar former Union Secretary Education & Literacy; G.N. Var, Veteran Educationist and Chief Patron PSAJK and other senior policymakers, researchers and education experts. The (Regd.) Jammu & Kashmir Private Schools Association (J&K-PSA) actively participated in the national-level discussions, bringing the views, experiences and concerns of Jammu & Kashmir’s private education sector to the wider national platform. The association was represented by a delegation comprising Bilal Ahmad Bhat, State President; M. Syed Wani, General Secretary (Organisation); Dr. Owais Mattoo, Director Media & Communications and Hilal Ahmad Khan, Secretary. The delegation engaged in discussions on key issues concerning school education, institutional development, education financing and policy reforms.
Addressing the gathering, Advisor to the Chief Minister, Nasir Aslam Wani, emphasised the need for stronger cooperation between government and private educational institutions, better utilisation of available resources and greater focus on skill-based education and youth employability.
He said, “Strengthening the education ecosystem in Jammu & Kashmir requires a coordinated approach, with government and private educational institutions working as complementary partners. Education and healthcare remain key priorities of the Government and our collective focus must be on improving the quality, accessibility and effectiveness of educational services. Alongside investment in physical infrastructure, we must ensure the optimum utilisation of available resources, rationalise teacher deployment, address disparities in teacher-student ratios and improve enrolment and student retention, particularly in rural and far-flung areas. Equal importance must be given to human resource development, as quality education depends on capable teachers and effective institutions.
Aslam Wani said “The National Education Policy (NEP-2020) provides an important framework for making education more practical, inclusive and employment-oriented. We must strengthen skill-based and vocational learning to equip young people, particularly those from economically weaker sections, with the skills and competencies needed to access better employment opportunities. The Government’s Ease of Doing Business initiative aims to simplify procedures and encourage greater private participation in education. We welcome investment in higher education and invite educational institutions to explore opportunities in Jammu & Kashmir. Stronger public-private partnerships, better resource management and a greater focus on employability will be essential to building an accessible, inclusive and sustainable education system.”
V. Vualnam, IAS, Secretary, Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, Government of India, highlighted the importance of efficient utilisation of public funds and ensuring that education expenditure delivers meaningful results. His remarks underlined that improving educational outcomes requires not only adequate financial allocations but also better planning, implementation and accountability.
A key highlight of the conference was the panel discussion featuring NISA National President Dr. Kulbhushan Sharma, who spoke about the need for a fair and transparent education system in which all schools are assessed on common principles and standards.
Questioning the conventional distinction between government and private schools, Dr. Sharma emphasised that all educational institutions contribute to society and should be recognised for their role in educating children. He also highlighted the financial contribution of parents and other stakeholders towards sustaining private schools.
Advocating a common framework for school assessment, he stressed that government and private institutions should be evaluated through transparent and comparable standards, with equal accountability and a fair regulatory environment.
Dr. Sharma said, “A level playing field is essential for the education sector. Common standards, transparent assessment and fair regulations should apply to all schools in the country. The focus must remain on improving learning outcomes rather than creating unnecessary distinctions between institutions”.
Dr. Kulbhushan Sharma and other education leaders for the steps taken by the Jammu and Kashmir Government towards improving the Ease of Doing Business in the education sector, particularly its efforts to address procedural difficulties and the long-standing NOC-related concerns of private schools.
The speakers appreciated the government's efforts to simplify regulatory procedures and reduce unnecessary administrative hurdles, observing that a supportive and transparent policy environment is essential for the smooth functioning and sustainable development of educational institutions. They stressed that such initiatives would help private schools focus more effectively on their core responsibility of providing quality education, while also safeguarding students' interests.
The conference featured three major sessions covering important dimensions of education policy and financing.
The first session, “Public Financing of Education,” moderated by Prof. Geeta Gandhi of University College London and President of City Montessori School, Lucknow, examined public investment in education and the effective utilisation of resources. The panel included Lt. Col. Jitendra Verma, OSD, NITI Aayog; Prof. Saumen Chattopadhyay of Jawaharlal Nehru University; Dr. Mridusmita Bordoloi, Policy Advisor, Centre for Social and Economic Progress; and Ms. Meeta Sengupta, Writer and Education Advisor.
A special “Student First Dialogue” brought together Sanjay Kumar, former Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education, Government of India and noted author and public intellectual Gurcharan Das. The discussion highlighted the importance of placing students and their educational interests at the centre of policy decisions.
The second session, “New-Age Financing of Education,” moderated by Dr. Parth J. Shah, focused on emerging financing approaches and the need to explore sustainable models that can improve access to education. The discussion featured Dr. Sarath Davala, Chair, Basic Income Earth Network; Dr. Arpan Tulsyan, Senior Fellow, Observer Research Foundation and Rahul Aggarwal, Vice President, Alliance for Re-Imagining School Education.
The third session, “Levers of Change,” moderated by Dr. Amit Chandra, explored the policy, institutional and practical measures required to strengthen the education system. The panel included Dr. Annie Koshi, Principal, St. Mary's School, New Delhi; Dr. Kulbhushan Sharma, President, NISA; Kavish Gadia, Co-founder and CEO, Excel One and Rahul Ahluwalia, Director, Foundation for Economic Development.
During the discussions, participants examined the relationship between education expenditure, school performance, institutional accountability and learning outcomes, emphasising the need for policies that translate financial investment into meaningful improvements in the quality of education.
The programme also featured the felicitation of research scholars and education thought leaders, followed by concluding remarks and a vote of thanks by Manoj Mathew, Director, Policy Outreach, Centre for Civil Society.
J&K-PSA’s participation provided an opportunity to highlight the views and concerns of Jammu and Kashmir’s private education sector in the national discussion on financial literacy, school choice, school development and educational reforms.
The association reaffirmed its commitment to quality education, student welfare and teacher development. It also stressed the importance of working closely with the government, policymakers, educators, parents and other stakeholders to build a strong, inclusive and better education system for all children.
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