Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 19: State Cabinet today deferred the proposal of the Higher Education Department about lifting of moratorium on the establishment of BEd colleges in view of the difference of opinion among the Ministers and a committee headed by Chief Secretary was constituted to look into various aspects relating to the issue and make recommendations.
Sources told EXCELSIOR that when the proposal of the Higher Education Department seeking lifting of moratorium on the establishment of BEd colleges in private sector came up for hearing some Ministers stated that such a step would not auger well for existing colleges, which have already been finding it difficult to fully utilize the present intake capacity.
However, some other Ministers had a different opinion on the issue and they stressed that moratorium should be lifted with certain conditions particularly that uncovered areas would be given preference.
“There is no necessity of opening more BEd colleges in areas like Jammu, Srinagar and Kathua where the number of such institutions is already large”, sources said quoting some Ministers’ observations made in the Cabinet. “If the moratorium has to be lifted it should be with the sole objective of providing facility to the students of remote and far-off areas to acquire BEd degree in the nearest possible location”, they said further quoting the Ministers.
Contrary to the proposal of the Higher Education Department, which states that 51962 students had applied for admission in 140 private and two State run BEd colleges however the Universities could admit only 38649 students, it was conveyed to the Cabinet that existing colleges have been finding it difficult to fully utilize the intake capacity and in the given circumstances there was no justification for lifting the moratorium.
“Some Ministers were also of the opinion that lifting of moratorium could be considered when Government accepts the recommendation vis-à-vis making BEd mandatory for school teachers”, sources said.
Keeping in view the difference of opinion, the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah constituted a committee headed by Chief Secretary to look into various issues involved in the proposed lifting of moratorium on the opening of new BEd colleges.
The committee will comprise of Secretary Higher Education Department, Secretary General Administration Department and Vice-Chancellors of Jammu and Kashmir Universities. The committee has been directed by the Cabinet to finalize recommendations within a period of one month.
It is pertinent to mention here that at present there are 140 BEd colleges in the private sector in J&K with 74 in Jammu province and 66 in Kashmir valley.
According to the sources, the Cabinet also discussed the Shopian situation and the steps required to assuage the feeling of the people there. The police enquiry report and other related aspects were thoroughly deliberated upon by the Ministers.
The Cabinet also accorded sanction to the transfer of State land measuring 500 kanal situated in village Jadh in Reasi district in favour of University of Jammu for establishment of a campus.
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