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BUDGAM: The (Regd.) J&K Private Schools Association Budgam (J&K-PSA) has called for greater collaboration between J&K Waqf Board educational institutions, private schools, government schools and cultural organisations to promote quality education while strengthening students’ connection with Jammu & Kashmir’s rich literary, spiritual and cultural heritage.
During a meeting with Dr. Darakhshan Andrabi, Chairperson, J&K Waqf Board and Dr. Owais Mattoo, Director Media & Communications, J&K-PSA and District President, J&K-PSA Budgam, discussed several important issues concerning the education sector, institutional collaboration and the preservation of Kashmir’s rich literary and cultural heritage. He emphasised the need for stronger collaboration between J&K Waqf Board schools, private educational institutions and government schools to promote quality and value-based education while ensuring that students remain connected with the region’s language, literature, cultural traditions and moral values.
Dr. Mattoo appreciated the work being carried out under the leadership of Dr. Darakhshan Andrabi and acknowledged the visible efforts towards strengthening and developing J&K Waqf Board and their educational infrastructure. He said that the transformation being witnessed in the Waqf system reflects sustained efforts and leadership over the past several years.
While congratulating Dr. Darakhshan Andrabi, Dr. Owais Mattoo referred to the importance of leadership qualities such as courage, vision and a strong commitment to public service. Quoting Allama Iqbal’s well-known verse, “Nigah buland suḳhan dil-navāz jaañ pur-soz; yahī hai raḳht-e-safar mīr-e-kārvāñ ke liye”, he underlined the importance of vision, compassion and dedication in leadership.
Speaking from his perspective as an educationist and representative of the private-school sector, Dr. Mattoo said that education cannot remain confined to textbooks and academic achievement alone. He stressed the need to connect students with language, literature, cultural heritage, moral values and the intellectual traditions of Kashmir.
He said that his institution and J&K-PSA member schools had already undertaken several initiatives aimed at connecting students with literature and cultural traditions and that such programmes had produced positive changes in students’ behaviour and overall outlook. “We cannot bring meaningful improvement unless we connect our children with literature and their cultural roots,” Dr. Mattoo said, emphasising the role of education in shaping not only academically capable students but also responsible citizens.
Dr. Mattoo further said that the J&K-PSA was working towards developing an educational model in collaboration with literary and cultural organisations, under which the teachings and literary contributions of Sheikh-ul-Alam Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Noorani (R.A.) could be introduced to students from the foundational level. He said the initiative was aimed at making students familiar with the spiritual, literary and ethical legacy of Sheikh-ul-Alam (R.A.) from an early age and ensuring that Kashmir’s indigenous literary heritage remains connected with contemporary education.
The J&K-PSA Budgam representative also proposed exploring collaboration with Waqf schools and other educational institutions so that private schools, government schools, Waqf schools and cultural organisations could work together on programmes related to quality education, literature, culture and value-based learning. Dr. Mattoo said several ideas were being explored in this regard and expressed hope that these could be discussed further with the concerned stakeholders to develop practical and sustainable programmes.
He stressed that such initiatives would require collective support and coordination, saying that meaningful educational transformation could not be achieved by institutions working in isolation. The interaction also highlighted the broader importance of bringing educational institutions and cultural bodies onto a common platform to promote quality education, cultural awareness, literary appreciation and character development among the younger generation.
Dr. Mattoo thanked Dr. Darakhshan Andrabi and the J&K Waqf Board for the opportunity to discuss these issues and reiterated the willingness of J&K-Private Schools Association to contribute to collaborative educational and cultural initiatives.
