Inaugurates first ever model school; feels riveted by Ranjit Sagar Dam
BASOHLI: Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Thursday, accompanied by a cavalcade of ministers and advisors formally launched the Chief Ministers Model School Scheme by inaugurating the first-ever government model school at the heritage town of Basohli.
Mufti announced the creation of a new Development Authority for Basohli, which he describes as the Gateway to J&K, so as to tap the full tourism potential of the magnificent Ranjit Sagar Dam.
He also inaugurated the historic SRML HSS at Jammu as a Model School.
Mufti was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister, Dr. Nirmal Singh, Minister for Health & Medical Education, Ch. Lal Singh, Minister for Education, Nayeem Akhtar, Advisor to the Chief Minister, Prof. Amitabh Mattoo, Minister of State for School Education, Priya Sethi, Mufti Sayeed arrived here this morning to usher in a new dawn in the field of education in the state.
Mufti inspected the new smart classrooms and fully-equipped computer labs with world-class facilities, which will familiarize students with new trends in the field of education.
I am happy we are making a new beginning from Basohli and Jammu from where we will take this movement to other parts of the state, he said.
Describing education as the most important pillar of a robust society, the Chief Minister credited Nayeem Akhtar for providing wings to the dreams of those poor students who have no access to modern tools of teaching. We have launched a new movement in imparting quality education to our students because unless we make strides in education, we cannot progress on any other front he stated.
Under the new Model School Scheme, 113 government higher secondary schools will be converted into Model Schools in the first phase. In all, 220 schools will be converted into model schools for which Rs. 16.50 crore have been allocated for creation of smart class rooms and state-of-the-art computer labs.
Laying stress on emulating private schools in dissemination of quality education, Mufti Sayeed said the Government will bring in structural changes and take corrective measures to put the sector, which had received a huge setback over the past few years, back on track. Teachers are nation builders and we will take every step to train them so that they impart quality education to our students, he said, while expressing concern over general decline in the quality of education in the government sector.
Placing high priority on upgrading the infrastructure in existing schools, Mufti Sayeed flagged access to learning and teaching aids and training of teachers as critical areas for providing quality to standards in education. Model Schools will have to adopt primary schools in their catchment areas to inculcate new concepts of teaching to students early in their career, he added.
Referring to the huge potential of states southern gateway, the Chief Minister announced setting up of a new Tourism Development Authority for Basohli to tap the tourism and heritage potential of a historic town. He said he was riveted by the beauty of the Ranjit Sagar Dam when he first visited the place earlier this year. How we missed such a magnificent lake is still a mystery to me, he added.
Mufti Sayeed directed Chief Secretary to speed up procedural processes for setting up Basohli Tourism Development Authority. He also said that till Pathankote-Basohli Road project is sanctioned under CRF by the Union Ministry for Road Transport and National Highways, the state government will start double-landing of the road on a fast-track basis. I wish to see the hustle and bustle of tourists in Basohli from next year, he said, while indicating that Tourism Department is making a concept plan for setting up a mega amusement park to promote it as a major tourist destination, catering to neighbouring states of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh.
Handing out an assurance to promote exquisite arts and crafts of Basohli, in particular Basohli Paintings, the Chief Minister announced setting up of a skill development institute to expose craftsmen to new trends and design. Handicraft is pride of our state that played a key role in resuscitating our economy during testing times, he added.
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