New Delhi, October 10: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday called for a future-ready education system that goes beyond examinations and equips students with critical thinking, digital literacy, adaptability and a sense of responsibility.
Addressing the School Leader of the Year 2026 Summit and Awards in New Delhi, Omar emphasised the role of school leaders in shaping students’ values, aspirations and overall development.
He said education must focus on nurturing creativity, communication, collaboration and problem-solving skills alongside academic achievement. School principals and head teachers, he added, play a crucial role in building safe, inclusive, innovative and student-centric institutions.
Highlighting the growing role of technology and artificial intelligence, the Chief Minister called for their responsible use to improve learning outcomes, personalise education and support teachers. He stressed that technology should complement, rather than replace, the human element of teaching.
Omar also underlined the need for continuous professional development of teachers and school leaders through innovative teaching methods, knowledge-sharing and collaboration.
Emphasizing equitable access to quality education, he said children in rural, remote and underserved areas must receive the same attention as those in urban centres. Governments, educators, parents and communities, he added, must work together to address students’ diverse academic and developmental needs.
The Chief Minister also called for greater collaboration among educational institutions in India and abroad to promote innovation and improve education standards.
On the occasion, he felicitated heads of several educational institutions for their contributions. Among those present were Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology’s Achyuta Samanta, Association of Indian Principals Executive Chairman Dalip Sharma, AIP CTO and City Innovates CEO Kashish Jhamb, and Macmillan Education India Managing Director Rajesh Pasari.