Daijiworld Media Network - Jammu

Jammu, Nov 9: Students studying in government schools across Jammu and Kashmir will be provided free textbooks and uniforms to ensure they receive facilities on par with those available to children in private schools, Education Minister Shameema Firdous said on Monday.

The minister said the government is taking steps to provide free books and uniforms to government school students, adding that the initiative would help attract more people towards government schools.

Speaking to media persons, Firdous welcomed the move and said children studying in government institutions should receive equal opportunities and facilities as those attending private schools.

"Why do we give more to private schools? Our children have to work hard; they have to be brought to the same level as private school children," she said.

She said the Books Day initiative has been launched to ensure that students and their parents do not face difficulties in obtaining textbooks, particularly as many families cannot afford the cost of books.

The minister also expressed concern over the high prices of textbooks sold by private educational institutions and said such institutions should reconsider their pricing.

She pointed out that some schools were charging Rs 10,000, Rs 6,000 and Rs 7,000 for book sets, adding that the government would soon issue an order to address the issue.

"We will do something about it. The book sets they have kept for Rs 10,000, Rs 6,000, Rs 7,000, we are going to pass an order very soon on that," she said.

Firdous said she would convene a meeting with the Director of Education and other officials to discuss the matter. She stressed that the system should function in a disciplined manner and assured that the necessary steps would be taken.

On the issue of Jammu and Kashmir Bank recruitment and the prescribed age limit, the minister expressed disappointment over the decision to fix the maximum age at 30 years.

She said the upper age limit should be extended to 40 years, considering that no appointments had been made during the past 10 years.

"They should keep it up to 40 years, because no appointment has taken place for the last 10 years. Keeping that in view, they should reconsider this," she said.