SRINAGAR : Jammu and Kashmir National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah on Friday described teachers as the “backbone of society”, saying their role in shaping the future of the nation through education and character-building remains invaluable.
In a message on Teachers’ Day, Abdullah said teachers have a crucial responsibility to impart knowledge and guide students towards becoming responsible and capable citizens.
He also expressed concern over the “long-pending” issues faced by teachers working in private schools in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly their salaries and working conditions.
Abdullah urged private school managements to ensure that teachers are treated with dignity and paid adequately for their services.
“It is important that private school teachers are given due respect and salary for the services they provide,” he said.
The NC president also called upon teachers to focus on nurturing good character, values, culture and civility among children, saying education should go beyond academics and help shape children into responsible members of society.
Recalling the contribution of late Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah to the education sector, Farooq said people of Kashmir take pride in the fact that the former leader began his career as a teacher.
He said Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah accorded priority to education after assuming the reins of public administration and worked towards improving literacy and empowering people through education.
According to Farooq, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh witnessed a gradual expansion of education under Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah’s vision, from a time when the literacy rate was below six per cent.
He also congratulated the people of Jammu and Kashmir on what he described as an “outstanding” literacy rate of 98.43 per cent.
