ARMY GOODWILL SCHOOLS IN KASHMIR – DEEP IMPACT
To quote a famous saying “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose”. The same steering is provided by the schools in shaping the future of children. One such initiative is taken by Indian Army in Kashmir Valley to accelerate the education system for the youth. Army Goodwill schools were established in 1998 by Indian Army. To facilitate provisioning of quality education to population affected by terrorism in J&K was identified as a “Key Result Area” by Indian Army in late 1990’s. Indian Army over the years has established over 45 Army Goodwill Schools. Approximately one lakh fifty thousand plus students have benefitted in last 22 years.
The popularity and excellence of the school can be measured by the fact that the number of these schools are growing every year and the milestones achieved by the students of Goodwill schools shows the excellence and quality studies. Provision of admission of students belongs to economically weaker section also exist. Such students are being provided scholarship to cater for school fee and other basic requirements. Provision of transport from home to school and backforth also exist. Besides imparting quality education the Goodwill schools are also providing employment to qualified youth.
Goodwill schools has also made efforts to provide students with opportunities for pursuing higher education. “The Kashmir Super 50” which has been established on the similar lines of famous “Super 30” in Bihar for engineering studies is one of them. On the same lines studies for Medical stream was also introduced. Both the scheme benefitted hundreds of students to get selected in various reputed colleges across India.
Apart from imparting bookish knowledge, Army Goodwill schools also emphasise on Women Empowerment, Cultural development, Sports and other programs which further enhances the skills of students. Moreover visits to various parts of country are also planned in regular intervals. Students are made to visit prestigious IITs, NITs, Medical Colleges, National Defence Academy, Indian Military Academy etc to give a insight of these premier institutions and motivate students to work harder in order to join these institutions for higher education.
Army Goodwill Schools have been able to impart quality education in remotest of the areas of Jammu and Kashmir. The students – teachers’ ratio in Army Goodwill schools is one of the best available in the state. A great emphasis is given on the selection of teachers for Army Goodwill Schools and best suited candidates with requisite qualities are picked up for the job. The result provided in last few decades by Army Goodwill Schools bears the testimony of the Indian Army’s vision for uplifting the education standards of Jammu and Kashmir.
In last two decades Army Goodwill Schools have been provided with best infrastructure available in the country and overall development is being stressed upon. Capacity building tours are organised by Indian Army every year, wherein students form Army Goodwill Schools are being taken to various parts of country to experience the diverse culture, development and heritage of the country. Such excursions have paid rich dividends in terms of keeping the young generation away from propaganda and negativity. Army Goodwill Schools are working toward the overall development of its students and the results of previous academic sessions speak volumes of its commitment towards the people Jammu and Kashmir.
Army Goodwill Schools is indeed a very good initiative taken by Indian Army for shaping the future of youth of J&K. Results shown by the students in every calendar year are witnesses of excellence and quality of education. Goodwill schools are the future of the state and certainly has a deep impact on its population. In future a greater number of such schools are expected to be opened so that greater strength of youth may get benefitted out of the efforts being made by Indian Army.
