Headquarters Northern Command commemorated a decade-long educational partnership between the Army Goodwill Schools (AGS) and a reputed mobile network company reaffirming the Indian Army’s efforts to strengthen access to quality education and expand opportunities for youth in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
The commemorative event was held at Army Goodwill Public School, Pahalgam, and was attended by Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command; besides senior officials of the Army and civil dignitaries of the Foundation.
The partnership, which began with 14 schools, has expanded over the past decade to cover all 43 Army Goodwill Schools in the region. The collaboration has focused on strengthening school leadership, classroom practices, academic management and teacher capabilities, besides promoting technology-enabled learning and supporting the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
The initiative has also placed emphasis on encouraging creativity and scientific thinking among students. AGS Innovation Clubs have facilitated more than 160 student-led projects, with students participating in national-level programmes such as ISRO YUVIKA, INSPIRE-MANAK and Young Scientist India.
Addressing the gathering, Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma shared his experiences as a student and spoke about overcoming challenges through perseverance. He encouraged the students to set ambitious goals and remain committed to achieving them.
Rakesh Bharti Mittal assured continued support to the Army Goodwill Schools for the next decade and announced a series of new initiatives by the Bharti Airtel Foundation. These include books for school libraries, sports coaching, additional smart classrooms, scholarships for higher education and cash incentives for meritorious Class 10 and 12 students.
Shinei Sharma encouraged students to remain focused on their education and urged teachers and parents to support and guide them in preparing for future challenges. She also called for greater efforts towards educating girls and promoting an inclusive society.
Northern Command reiterated its commitment to strengthening the educational ecosystem of Army Goodwill Schools and empowering students through quality education, creativity, leadership and holistic development.
