Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 13: In a bizarre development, former Minister and Peoples Conference, President, Sajad Lone has come to the rescue of the students who had been bunking off their schools in Kashmir.
Taking to the social media, Lone claimed that as many as 205 students of higher secondary school are being “penalized for shortage in attendance.”
He asked the school authorities to be “realistic” adding that the government institutions were not able to impart education.
“Private tuition is a rule rather than an exception across the country. 205 students of higher secondary students are being penalised for shortage in attendance. Better to b realistic. We can’t impart quality education in state schools. If they do it privately. Y make it punitive,” Lone said.
The remark has drawn severe criticism from the educationists and other circles of the society especially parents, who said instead of seeking end to bunking off the schools, a former minister was behaving “irresponsibly.”
“Doesn’t he know that bunking off schools is emerging as a reason for bad habits which can end up in criminal activities like drug abuse. How can a senior politician be so irresponsible,” said a senior educationist.
He said if Sajad Lone “believes that government schools don’t offer education, why do students who afford private tuitions come to government schools in the first instance?”
Parents said such remarks from a senior politician can only be detrimental for the career of their kids. “If politicians start poking their nose into schooling only to defend bunking of schools, the future of youth can only be imagined,” said some parents.
It’s worthwhile to mention here that only around two months ago, the administration in Srinagar led by Additional District Commissioner had launched a major drive against kids bunking off schools.
Many such students were caught red-handed roaming around and subsequently put to counseling along with their parents.
Despite repeated attempts, Sajad Lone couldn’t be contacted for comments. |
