Sanawar, October 4
The Chief of the Army Staff, Gen J.J. Singh today stressed upon discipline and the need to reinforce the importance of all-round development of students rather than mere academic excellence.
Addressing students, their parents, staff members and old students of Lawrence School here on the occasion of ‘Trooping the School Flag’ to mark the institute’s 158th founder’s day, the Army Chief said the country today faced challenges from religious fanaticism, corruption, subversion and unequal distribution of resources.
“Most of these problems can be solved if students follow the principles of secularism, collective strength and professionalism,” he said. “Therefore, education must ensure that all of you leave school fully equipped for the rigours of modern day challenges,” he added.
Stating that we should not accept any differences of caste, creed or religion as the criterion for
selection, he added, “A system must understand only one quality — equality, which is measured on the scale of professionalism, which is further measured on the scale of performance in an atmosphere of equal opportunity and equal learning”.
Gen J.J. Singh said, “Teachers are ordinary people with extraordinary skills”. He praised the efforts of the Old Sanawarians (OS) for coming to the aid of their alma mater and extending help to it.
Earlier, he reviewed an immaculate parade while the school’s old flag, dating to the British era was laid to rest and a new flag trooped in.
The performance of the school band, which played various martial tunes during the parade, came in for special praise by him.
The Army Chief presented the school with an air rifle and an air pistol.
Presenting the annual report, the officiating Headmaster, Mr Praveen Vasisht, said due to instability in the recent past in the school there was some anxiety in the minds of parents and OS about its well-being.
The Army Chief’s wife, Mrs Anupama Singh, gave away prizes to students who had topped in various categories. The couple also went around the campus visiting various exhibitions put up by the students.
The Chief of Army Staff’s Trophy 2004 for the Best All Round Girl went to Anugya Jain while the Chief of Air Staff’s trophy for Academic Excellence went to Himalaya House. The Nellie Lovell prize for a boy standing first in the CBSE examination went to Ramandeep Singh. Shri Shadi Ram Prize for a boy standing first in the CBSE examination was bagged by Sahil Ohri while Shrimati Bhaghwati Devi prize for a girl standing first in the CBSE class 10 examination went to Anshula Chaudhary.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhanda Singh’s daughter Aprajita Kumari won the Bellie Lovell prize for a girl standing first in the CBSE Class 12 examination as well as the Yashpal Choudhary Gold Medal for a child scoring the highest marks in mathematics in the same examination.
