| News Details |
| PSA Extends Independence Day Greetings | | Hails J&K Schools for Exemplary Patriotic Participation | Srinagar, August 14 (Scoop News)-The Private Schools Association (PSA) has extended warm and heartfelt greetings to the people of the country, particularly the people of Jammu & Kashmir, on the occasion of the 80th Independence Day.
In a statement issued to the press, PSA State President Bilal Ahmad Bhat and General Secretary (Organisation) Mohammad Syed Wani, along with all executive members of the Apex Central Body, District Presidents, Zonal Presidents and the entire fraternity of member schools, conveyed their best wishes for peace, progress, prosperity and unity across the nation.
The PSA leadership said that Independence Day is not merely a celebration of freedom but also an occasion to reaffirm the collective responsibility of every citizen towards nation-building, social harmony, education and the development of future generations.
The Association also appreciated the enthusiastic participation of its member schools in various Independence Day-related activities and programmes, including Tiranga Rallies, National Song and patriotic singing competitions, essay-writing competitions and several other awareness and cultural programmes. A large number of PSA-affiliated schools and their students have participated with enthusiasm, reflecting their commitment to fostering patriotism, constitutional values and a strong sense of national responsibility among children.
The PSA leadership expressed appreciation to school leaders, teachers, students and parents for ensuring meaningful participation in these programmes and said that educational institutions have a vital role in nurturing responsible, disciplined and patriotic citizens.
Meanwhile, the Private Schools Association has strongly condemned and categorically disowned a misleading social media poster/circular being circulated through Facebook, WhatsApp groups and other platforms, claiming to organise a National Teachers’ Day celebration on 14 September and allegedly seeking a payment of ₹4,000 per teacher/person.
PSA State President Bilal Ahmad Bhat and General Secretary (Organisation) Mohammad Syed Wani clarified that the Association has neither issued any such circular, notice or order nor authorised any individual or organisation to collect money from schools, teachers or members in its name.
The PSA leadership said that several school authorities and teachers have approached the Association after receiving the misleading communication and reported that certain persons were allegedly seeking money by using the name of the Private Schools Association.
“We categorically clarify that PSA has not announced or authorised any such programme and has not asked any school, teacher or member to deposit ₹4,000 or any other amount. Any person collecting money in the name of PSA is doing so without the authorisation of the democratically elected Association”.
The Association further clarified that Teachers’ Day is officially observed every year on September 5 in India to commemorate the birth anniversary of former President and eminent educationist Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. The Government and concerned authorities organise official Teachers’ Day programmes at national and state levels as part of the annual observance.
The PSA urged schools and teachers not to respond to, endorse or make any payment against the fake circulated poster and advised them to verify any such communication directly with the officially recognised PSA leadership before taking any action.
The Association also clarified the issue in view of confusion being created among member schools regarding the organisational status of PSA.
The PSA leadership stated that the present Association is a democratically elected body formed after a comprehensive grassroots-level election process, covering Zonal, District and State levels. The election process was conducted transparently in the presence and observers of civil society members, government officials, former government officers, intellectuals, veteran educationists, media and representatives of a large number of schools.
The leadership said that the entire democratic exercise was undertaken to strengthen institutional credibility, accountability and representation within the private school fraternity.
The Association further clarified that an earlier ad-hoc body had been constituted only for a limited purpose of facilitating the election process and for a specified period. According to PSA, that body failed to complete the assigned mandate within the stipulated period and subsequently stood dissolved. Therefore, the PSA said, any communication being issued or circulated by individuals associated with that dissolved arrangement cannot be treated as an official communication of the present democratically elected PSA.
“The present PSA is the outcome of a transparent and democratic election process conducted from the grassroots level to the State level. Its legitimacy is based on the mandate received from the school fraternity. No dissolved or unauthorised body has any authority to issue circulars, make financial demands or represent itself as the present PSA,” the leadership said.
The PSA also expressed serious concern over the alleged use of names and designations of senior government functionaries and prominent personalities in the circulated poster.
The Association said that such unauthorised use of the names of senior public officials can create confusion among schools and the general public and should be examined by the concerned authorities.
The PSA urged the authorities to look into the matter and ascertain how the names of senior government functionaries and other prominent personalities have been used in such a communication without any authorisation, particularly when the post appears to seek monetary contributions from members of the school and teaching fraternity.
The Association appealed to all member schools, school heads, teachers and parents to exercise caution and verify all circulars, invitations, programmes and financial requests through the official communication channels of the democratically elected PSA.
The PSA reiterated that the Association has a clear history of working for the welfare of private schools, teachers , students and parents, that there has never been any practice within PSA of asking teachers to pay ₹4,000 for participation in a Teachers’ Day celebration or for receiving awards.
PSA President Bilal Bhat and General Secretary Mohammad Syed Wani said “PSA strongly condemns any attempt to misuse its name, mislead schools and teachers, create confusion within the private school fraternity or collect money by falsely claiming association with the Private Schools Association. Our members should remain vigilant and immediately report any such communication to the Association,” The PSA leadership also appealed to schools not to forward unverified posters or messages on social media and to rely only on authenticated communications issued through the Association's recognised channels.
The Association reaffirmed its commitment to democratic functioning, transparency, accountability and the welfare of the entire private school fraternity of Jammu & Kashmir.
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