Educational excellence demands vision, integrity and collective leadership: Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shah

• Teacher training must become jammu & kashmir's biggest educational priority: Vijay Dhar
• Dr. G.N. Var's lifelong mission has been to secure a better future for every child: Dr. Shafi Ayuub
• Historic 92% polling marks PSA's largest democratic exercise; Bilal Bhat elected as State President & M. Syed Wani as General Secretary
• Transparent elections reflect the strength of democratic institutions: Mehboob Hussain
• PSA emerges as one of J&K's largest member-based school associations; G.N. Var's leadership still needed: Showkat Chowdhary
• Educational institutions must always remain above personal interests: Dr. G.N. Var
• Teaching is a mission to rebuild society: Khurshid Bismil
• Dr. G.N. Var took the dream of civil services to every corner of J&K: Mir Fayaz

SRINAGAR: In one of the most significant milestones in the history of private education sector in Jammu & Kashmir, the Private Schools' Association (PSA) on Saturday successfully conducted its Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2026 along with the much-awaited State-Level Elections, culminating a nearly two-month-long democratic exercise that began from the grassroots and concluded with the election of the Association's central leadership.

Held under the theme "Democratic Leadership for Quality Education," the event witnessed an overwhelming participation of school leaders, educationists, administrators, civil society members and delegates from across Jammu and Kashmir, reaffirming the Association's commitment to constitutional values, transparency and democratic governance.

The AGM was attended by an eminent gathering of dignitaries from different walks of life. Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shah, JKAS, Secretary to Government, Information Technology Department, graced the occasion as Chief Guest, while Dr. Shafi Ayuub, Editor Tarjeehat, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi; Vijay Dhar, Chairman DPS Srinagar; Former Joint Director School Education Mehboob Hussain; Dr. G.N. Var, Chief Patron PSA and Joint Secretary, National Independent Schools Alliance (NISA); Showkat Chowdhary, Chairman Education Committee CCIK; Khurshid Bismil, Chairman Private Schools Association Pir Panjal & Chenab Valley Division Jammu; Babar Chowdhary, President JKHARA; Dr. Lateef Ahmad Lone, Vice President JKHARA and senior trade union leader Mir Fayaz, among several other distinguished personalities, attended the function.

The programme commenced with the recitation of the Holy Qur'an, followed by Naat-e-Sharif, a traditional Kashmiri Izzatbandi ceremony honouring the guests, formal introduction of the Election Commission, presentation of the election rules and constitutional guidelines and thereafter the commencement of polling.

The state-level elections were conducted under the supervision of PSA Chief Election Commissioner Advocate Ghulam Hassan Rather and his Election Commission team, who oversaw the entire electoral exercise in accordance with the Association's constitution. Polling was conducted peacefully and witnessed an impressive 92 percent voter participation, reflecting the confidence of member institutions in the democratic process.

For the post of State President, Bilal Ahmad Bhat contested against Manzoor Ahmad Rather, while Mohammad Syed Wani contested against Riyaz Ahmad Thoker for the post of General Secretary.

Announcing the official results, the Election Commission declared Bilal Ahmad Bhat elected as State President and Mohammad Syed Wani as General Secretary. In the presidential contest, Bilal Ahmad Bhat secured an overwhelming majority over his opponent, reaffirming the confidence reposed in his leadership by member schools across the Jammu & Kashmir.

Immediately after the declaration of results, the newly elected office bearers were administered the oath of office by Chief Guest Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shah, who urged the new leadership to continue strengthening educational institutions through integrity and collective leadership.

A grand felicitation and awards ceremony followed the oath-taking, during which District Presidents, Zonal Presidents, Executive Committees from different districts and members of the Election Commission were honoured for their dedicated service in strengthening the Association's democratic structure. Mementoes were presented to the Chief Guest and Guests of Honour, while several educationists and social personalities received appreciation awards in recognition of their outstanding contribution to education and society.

Addressing the gathering after the successful completion of the elections, Chief Election Commissioner Advocate Ghulam Hassan Rather described the election as a proud demonstration of institutional democracy and collective responsibility.

He said "The remarkable 92 percent voter participation reflects the deep faith of our member schools in democratic values and transparent leadership. The entire electoral process was conducted strictly in accordance with the Association's constitution, ensuring fairness, credibility and equal opportunity for every candidate. I sincerely thank every voter, every candidate, the Election Commission team, the media fraternity and all those who contributed to making this election a historic success. Today, the Association has not merely elected its leadership; it has strengthened the democratic foundation upon which its future will continue to flourish."

Chief Guest Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shah, JKAS, Secretary, Information Technology Department, congratulated the newly elected leadership and praised the Association for conducting a free, fair and transparent election. He described education as the most powerful instrument of nation-building and urged school leaders to embrace innovation, digital transformation and ethical leadership.

He said "Strong educational institutions are built on transparency, accountability and visionary leadership. Today's democratic exercise reflects the institutional maturity of the Private Schools' Association and I am confident the new leadership will continue serving the larger interests of education and society".

Dr. Shafi Ayuub, Editor Tarjeehat and academician from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), congratulated the newly elected leadership of the Private Schools' Association and lauded Chief Patron Dr. G.N. Var for his lifelong dedication to educational excellence. Recalling his association with Dr. Var since 2002, he described him as a visionary educationist whose unwavering mission has been to ensure quality education for the children of Jammu and Kashmir by connecting them with the country's finest academic resource persons and inspiring them to aspire for prestigious national careers.

Renowned educationist and Chairman Delhi Pubic School Srinagar Vijay Dhar has lauded the Private Schools' Association, particularly its Chief Patron Dr. G.N. Var, for fostering a united and democratic platform that consistently champions educational reforms. Appreciating the Association's transparent election process.

He said Dr. Var's leadership has strengthened the voice of private schools and urged the Association to now spearhead initiatives for Primary Teacher Training, B.Ed. programmes and inclusive education to further enhance the quality of schooling across Jammu and Kashmir.

Former Joint Director School Education Department Mehboob Hussain described the PSA;s grassroot level election as one of the most transparent and peaceful democratic exercises he had ever witnessed. He urged the newly elected leadership to uphold the same spirit of integrity while emphasizing that education should empower children with skills, confidence and emotional resilience rather than burden them with excessive expectations.

Chairman Education Committee, CCIK, Showkat Chowdhary described the Private Schools' Association as one of the largest member-based school organisations in Jammu and Kashmir, saying the transparent and democratic elections have further reinforced its credibility and institutional strength. He credited Chief Patron Dr. G.N. Var with building the Association through years of unwavering dedication, vision and personal sacrifice. He observed that Dr. Var's decision to step down had come at a time when both the Association and the private school fraternity continue to need his experienced leadership, urging members to remain united behind him in advancing the cause of private education across Jammu and Kashmir.

PSA Chief Patron Dr. G.N. Var, described the successful completion of the Association's electoral process as a historic democratic milestone, stating that over the past several months elections were conducted through transparently and constitutionally at the zonal, district and Central Body levels with active participation from member schools. Congratulating the newly elected leadership led by State President Bilal Ahmad Bhat and General Secretary Mohammad Syed Wani,

He expressed confidence that they would honour the trust reposed in them by the school fraternity by addressing the genuine concerns of private schools and promoting quality, child-centric education. Dr. Var reiterated that the Association, built through nearly seventeen years of dedicated service and collective effort, remains the only recognised member organisation from Jammu and Kashmir affiliated with NISA. He said every stage of the elections was conducted under the supervision of retired officers, serving officials, civil society representatives and media to ensure complete transparency and democratic credibility. While acknowledging that differences of opinion are natural in any democratic institution, he appealed to all stakeholders to resolve issues through dialogue, respect the democratic mandate and work collectively for the larger interests of private schools, emphasizing that the Association is a public trust that must never be compromised for personal interests but should always remain committed to safeguarding the future of education in Jammu and Kashmir.

Khurshid Bismil, Chairman of the Private Schools' Association for the Pir Panjal and Chenab Valley region, said education is the most powerful force for rebuilding society, urging private schools to see themselves not merely as institutions of learning but as centres of character-building and social transformation. He said schools established out of conviction and commitment leave a lasting impact, while those driven by convenience can never fulfil the true purpose of education. Lauding PSA Chief Patron Dr. G.N. Var, he said his lifelong dedication has transformed the Private Schools' Association into a movement committed to educational excellence, quality learning and the intellectual awakening of Jammu and Kashmir.

Senior Trade Union Leader and JK Civil Society Forum Executive Member Mir Fayaz congratulated the newly elected leadership of the Private Schools' Association, describing it as one of Jammu and Kashmir's strongest democratic platforms for private education. He credited Chief Patron Dr. G.N. Var, whom he described as a "born leader," for uniting the private school fraternity, strengthening the Association's voice and inspiring generations of educators. He also lauded Dr. Var's pioneering efforts in promoting awareness about competitive examinations, saying his outreach across urban and rural Jammu and Kashmir has encouraged thousands of students to aspire for prestigious civil services and other national-level careers.

The programme concluded with a Vote of Thanks by Election Liaison Officer B.A. Shah, who expressed gratitude to the Chief Guest, Guests of Honours, Election Commission, member schools, delegates, media fraternity and volunteers for making the Annual General Meeting and State Elections a grand success. He also acknowledged the dedicated efforts of the district and zonal office bearers in successfully conducting the Association's extensive democratic exercise. The event concluded with a renewed commitment to strengthening the Association and advancing quality private education across Jammu and Kashmir.