Schools in Jammu and Kashmir [Images] will be smoke-free zones from September 5 as teachers vowed to set examples for the students.

Smoking in educational institutions is rampant in the state and had betrayed all restrictions in view of the disturbed situation in Kashmir. Free exchange of cigarettes in some cases between the teacher and the taught had marred the solemnity of these institutions.

On the Teacher's Day, the teaching fraternity in Jammu and Kashmir pledged to make all educational institutions in the state no-smoking zones.

The teachers took this pledge before Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed at a function.
Addressing the function, the chief minister asked the school heads to involve the parents and society in the activities of their institutions.

He said already the state government has formed village education committees that assist in the development of educational infrastructure in the villages.

The chief minister said the government has taken several big steps, which were the demand of the current educational scenario. He said the school registration age has been fixed at four and English has been introduced as a compulsory subject from the first primary.

He said Jammu and Kashmir could develop a strong human resources base as an edge over other states. Taking Japan [Images] as an example, he said, the state can export trained technical expertise in developmental areas to outside.