Charari Sharief, OCT 7: The J&K Private Schools Association (PSA) has called for greater collaboration among J&K Waqf Board educational institutions, private and government schools, and cultural organisations to promote quality, value-based education while strengthening students’ connection with Kashmir’s rich literary, spiritual and cultural heritage.

The issue was discussed during a meeting between Dr. Darakhshan Andrabi, Chairperson, J&K Waqf Board, and Dr. Owais Mattoo, Director Media & Communications, J&K-PSA and District President Budgam.
Dr. Mattoo emphasised the need for closer institutional cooperation to provide students with quality education while keeping them connected with the region’s language, literature, cultural traditions and moral values.
Appreciating the efforts being made under Dr. Andrabi’s leadership, Mattoo said the development of Waqf institutions and educational infrastructure reflected sustained efforts towards strengthening the system.
Highlighting the broader role of education, he said learning should not remain confined to textbooks and academic achievement but should also promote character, cultural awareness and a sense of social responsibility.
“We cannot bring meaningful improvement unless we connect our children with literature and their cultural roots,” Mattoo said.
He said the J&K-PSA and its member schools had already undertaken initiatives to familiarise students with literature and cultural traditions, which, he added, had contributed positively to their outlook and behaviour.
Mattoo further proposed developing an educational model in collaboration with literary and cultural organisations to introduce students, from the foundational level, to the teachings and literary contributions of Sheikh-ul-Alam Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Noorani (RA) and other eminent personalities of Kashmir.
He said the initiative would help preserve the region’s indigenous literary heritage while connecting it with contemporary education.
The PSA representative also proposed collaboration among Waqf, private and government schools and cultural organisations for programmes focused on quality education, literature, culture and value-based learning.
He stressed that meaningful educational transformation required collective efforts and that institutions should work together rather than in isolation.
The meeting also underlined the importance of bringing educational and cultural institutions onto a common platform to promote literary appreciation, cultural awareness and character development among the younger generation.
Mattoo thanked Dr. Andrabi and the Waqf Board management for the interaction and reiterated the PSA’s willingness to contribute to collaborative educational and cultural initiatives.