Next time, an officer of the Education Department visits a school in Kashmir Valley, he is unlikely to receive plastic bouquets from the studetns or a lavish wazwan party from the teachers.
In the latest circular issued by the Directorate of School Education, schools have been asked to extend courtesies with natural flowers should Education Minister or any senior official of the Education Department pay visit or attend a function.
“It has been observed that the guests/officers who visit the schools/offices or any function are received with plastic bouquets which is not an eco-friendly practice and needs to be done away with,” a circular issued by Director School Education, Kashmir, Shah Faesal reads.
The circular suggests that the school management must extend courtesy to the guest or the Minister for Education, natural flowers grown in the school premises must be given instead of the bio non-degradable bouquet.
The circular is aimed at encouraging flower cultivation in school premises and promoting sensitivity towards environment and conservation issues.
However, most of the schools in the Valley, especially in the Government sector, face space crunch and lack basic facilities. During the harsh winter months, the children face multitude of problems particularly spine-chilling cold in classrooms sans heating arrangement.
“It is a distant dream to grow flowers in school premises. Many schools don’t have premises at all, and if they do have, there are several other priorities”, headmaster of a middle school in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district said.
However, he appreciated Faesal’s initiative and a slew of circulars issued since he took over the reins of the department in August this year. Faesal, the 2010 IAS topper was brought in to head the directorate to supplement Education Minister Naeem Akhtar’s initiatives for “restoring glory of the education system in Kashmir”.
Earlier, in a similar circular the department asked heads of all its institutions in the Valley to desist from insisting on lavish hospitality to senior officials during their visits.
“All the heads of the institutions of Kashmir Division falling under this Directorate are enjoined not to insist any lavish hospitality during the visit of senior officers to their respective institutions,” the circular said.
Teachers say that it has been a standard practice to serve lavish wazwaan, a traditional course of seven mutton dishes, to officers or inspection teams when they visit private or Government-run educational institutions. “Most of the times, the courtesies extended on such visits or wazwans served would mellow down the inspection teams and the schools would get away with shortcomings and deficiencies”, the headmaster said.