Sood interacts with school heads, stresses safety, mental health of students

Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood on Tuesday discussed various issues related to the academic environment In with the principals and the heads of schools in East Delhi, including quality of education, infrastructure of institutions, students’ safety, and the administrative system.

During an interaction with the school authorities, organized at the CM Shri School in Surajmal Vihar, East Delhi, Sood called upon all principals and heads of schools to take the quality of education to new heights through dialogue and coordination.
He said that the purpose of the interaction programme was to understand the challenges in making government schools more modern, empowered, and student-friendly with suggestions from teachers and school administrations.

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During the interaction, the minister emphasized the importance of students’ mental health, saying it is an era of mental stress. Apart from academics, schools must focus on identifying students’ mental conditions, stress, depression, and emotional issues.
Expressing serious concern over the safety of students, he said there should not be any “dark spot” in a school where an unpleasant or inhuman incident could occur. He cited the growing threat of drugs around school premises while highlighting the need to promote sports activities.

The school heads were directed to immediately identify shortcomings related to sports facilities, availability of PET teachers, and other requirements, and ensure that every child is connected to some form of sport to develop discipline and positive energy.
Sood told the officials that the government’s objective is not merely to achieve better results, but to create a positive, safe, and inspiring academic environment for the holistic development of students. “A teacher, especially a person leading an institution, if unable to fulfil his responsibilities sincerely, it will affect the entire society and future generations.” he contended.

Referring to the new CBSE standards, he stated that better results can no longer be projected merely on the basis of internal assessment, grace marks, or technical arrangements.

Sood also stated that community involvement in schools should be strengthened further through the new School Management Committee (SMC) guidelines, adding that in the new system, parents’ role would increase and they would also become Chairpersons in SMCs.
Interestingly, the minister who took a Metro to reach the venue of the meeting, also interacted with students he met on the train, and took their suggestions. He also interacted with citizens during the train journey and noted their feedback on different issues, while later he took an E- Rickshaw to reach the school concerned.