J&K Education Ministry promotes debating cult in schools

Jammu and Kashmir Education Minister Naeem Akhtar has underlined the importance of reviving "culture of debating" in schools as a step towards cultivating young leaders.
"The debating culture is being revived in an organized manner in the schools starting with inter-school debating competitions at the district level," he said during an extensive tour of many schools in Tral area of Pulwama district yesterday.
The minister noted that the students who stand out in intra-district debating competitions would participate in the state-level competition in September this year.
"I would like our students to not only participate at the national level but also reach the level of World Schools Debating Championship, one of the largest annual international student events in the world," he said.

Akhtar assured the state government's help in providing the resources needed to revive and promote debating competitions in schools.
As part of this new initiative, a zonal level debating competition would be held at Girls Higher Secondary School Noorpora (Tral), on a localized topic 'Environmental Issues and Opportunities in Tral', he said.

The minister also noted the "huge scope for preservation of, considerably unharmed, local ecology in Tral area while ensuring sustainable development".
Akhtar announced an inclusive Management Committee for Higher Secondary School, Noorpora with local esteemed citizens as its members.
The Committee would suggest measures on how to make the school more attractive for the students, he added.

During his visit to the Higher Secondary School Tral, the Minister announced introduction of Commerce stream in the school.
He also announced the constitution of a Mountaineering Club for the institution to promote exploration and observatory learning among the students.