Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir's first Army Public School was inaugurated on Wednesday by the army chief, General Deepak Kapoor, who lamented that education "has been one of the worst hit during two decades of militancy" in the state.

Located at the world famous Pahalgam hill resort in south Kashmir, the school is the 27th such to be run by the Army Welfare Education Society. It has been built at a cost of Rs.124 million.

A co-educational residential senior secondary school, its first academic session had begun in July with the aim of providing the children of Jammu and Kashmir "with an environment suited for wholesome growth," said Col. D.K. Kachari, the spokesperson of the Udhampur-based Northern Command.

"The school aims to be an institution of excellence, dedicated to the children of the state, to develop them into responsible citizens and leaders by imparting quality education in an environment which is caring stimulating and challenging," Kachari added. IANS