CM Omar Abdullah Calls for Future-Ready Education, Stresses Critical Thinking, Digital Literacy and Responsible AI Use
New Delhi, October 10: ANB: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday called for a future-ready education system that prepares children for challenges beyond examinations, stressing the need to develop critical thinking, digital literacy, adaptability and a strong sense of responsibility among students.
He was addressing the School Leader of the Year 2026 Summit & Awards in New Delhi, which brought together educators, school principals and institutional heads to recognise excellence, innovation and leadership in school education.
Emphasising the importance of educational leadership in nation-building, Omar Abdullah said school principals and headteachers play a vital role beyond the administration of institutions. They help shape the learning environment, values, aspirations and future prospects of young minds.
He said effective leadership was essential to creating safe, inclusive, innovative and student-centric educational institutions.
The Chief Minister stressed that education must focus on the holistic development of children rather than being limited to academic performance. He highlighted the importance of nurturing creativity, communication, collaboration, problem-solving skills and digital competence to enable students to navigate an increasingly complex and technology-driven world.
Referring to the growing role of technology and artificial intelligence (AI) in education, Omar Abdullah underlined the need to adopt these tools responsibly to improve learning outcomes, personalise educational experiences and support teachers.
He emphasised that technology should complement, rather than replace, the human element of teaching and learning, noting the continuing importance of teachers in guiding students and fostering their intellectual and personal development.
The Chief Minister also called for continuous professional development for teachers and school leaders, observing that exposure to innovative teaching practices, the exchange of experiences and greater collaboration among educational institutions were essential to improving the quality of education.
Highlighting the need to make educational excellence more inclusive, he said access to quality education must extend to children in rural, remote and underserved areas, alongside those studying in urban centres.
He emphasised that governments, educational institutions, teachers, parents and communities must work collectively to address the varied academic, social and developmental needs of children.
Omar Abdullah further stressed the importance of meaningful collaboration among educational institutions within India and internationally. Such partnerships, he said, could facilitate the exchange of successful practices, encourage innovation and contribute to improving educational standards.
Observing that recognition of outstanding school leadership helps strengthen a culture of excellence, the Chief Minister said such initiatives encourage institutions to learn from successful models and adapt innovative practices to their respective needs.
During the event, Omar Abdullah felicitated heads of several educational institutions in recognition of their contributions to the education sector.
Among those present were Achyuta Samanta of the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology; Dalip Sharma, Executive Chairman of the Association of Indian Principals (AIP); Kashish Jhamb, CTO of AIP and CEO of City Innovates; and Rajesh Pasari, Managing Director of Macmillan Education India.
Chancellors and senior officials from Indian and international universities, representatives of Austrade, school founders, directors, principals and heads of educational institutions from across the country also attended the summit. ANB
