Dr Ravinder Singh Rana
The Department of Higher Education is charged with the responsibility to monitor and regulate the dissemination of Higher Education above 10+2 level in the state by extending education facilities by opening of the Colleges and Universities. The access to Higher Education is measured in terms of Gross Enrolment ratio. The Gross Enrolment ratio for the state of J&K was 10.36% in 2007-08 which has increased to 18.2% (provisional) in 2011-12 which is higher than the national GER of 15%. The enrolment has accordingly increased from 77,000 in 2004-05 to 1,35,264 in 2012-13. The overall enrollment in the Higher Education Sector including Universities, Private Institutions and Agriculture/Medical Institutions has increased approximately to 2, 77,000 in the 11th Five Year Plan. The enrolment in Higher Education for the academic year 2013-14 is 179398, which includes Govt. Degree Colleges 136163 B.Ed Colleges 26080 and Universities (Kashmir University, Jammu University, Baba Gulam Shah Badshah University & Islamic University of Science and Technology, Pulwama). The Govt. of India, MHRD has set GER target of 22% at the national level to be achieved by 2020. The State is also aiming at achieving this GER target of 22% by the end of 2020. However, it requires a matching expansion in capacity of educational institutional viz-a-viz the strategy centered on enhancing the intake capacity of educational institutions. For every two lakh population in the age group of 18-23 an additional university is required to be established and for every one lakh population in the age group of 18-23, 10 Colleges are required to be established. Based on these projections there is still scope for establishment of more universities and colleges in the state. To reduce the disparities based on gender, caste and region and to provide equal opportunities of higher education the age group of 18-23 is major challenge to be overcome. The GER in urban areas is higher compared to rural and backward areas and same is the case with male/female disparities in the enrolment rate. The GOI has identified 374 districts as educationally backward out of which 11 districts are in the J&K State. All these districts are being covered with one College each with 50% state contribution. To bridge the gap between the male and female enrolment, it will be endeavored to provide one Women College in all the districts which are at present without a Women College. The Central Government has, however, taken a number of initiatives in the area of higher education including in the state of J&K some of which are as under
*Setting up of model Degree College in each of the identified 374 higher educationally backward districts where gross enrolment ratio for higher education is less than the national GER. Under this scheme the Central Govt. shall provide Central assistance to the extent of one half of the capital cost for establishment of each college limited to Rs 4.00 crore for special category state such as J&K. Under this plan, Anantnag, Badgam, Baramulla, Doda, Kargil, Kathua, Kupwara, Leh, Poonch, Rajouri and Udhampur districts in J&K have been identified as higher educationally backward states.
*Under the Prime Minister Reconstruction Plan (Phase I & II) it has been decided to open 24 colleges in J&K, These are in addition to the 4 colleges approved by UGC at (1) Uri (Baramulla), (2) Ramban (Doda), (3) Bijbehara (Anantnag), (4) Billawar (Kathua), 3) Scheme for establishment of new polytechnics under this scheme financial assistance of Rs 36.48 crores has been provided to the Govt of J&K for setting up new polytechnics in 18 districts-Kupwara, Baramulla, Badgam, Pulwama, Anantnag, Doda, Udhampur, Poonch, Rajouri, Kathua, Bandipura, Kulgam, Ganderbal, Kulgam, Shopian, Ramban, Kishtwar, Reasi and Samba. 4) A scholarship scheme entitled “Special Scholarship Scheme for J&K (SSSJ&K) has been launched by Department of Higher Education, from the academic year 2011-12. Students belonging to the state of J&K, pursuing general degree courses, medical courses, engineering courses etc. outside the state, may apply for scholarship under this scheme, through the institute in which they are studying.
But plight of higher education system had been degraded as there is scarcity of manpower about 1651 of Assistant processors were advertised three years back by J&K PSC but these posts are still hanging in complexities as Supreme Court of India clearly upheld UGC 2009 guidelines for appointment of teachers un universities and colleges across India, despite of verdict J&K higher education department not going ahead to direct concerned authorities to fill these posts thus lingering careers of highly educated aspirants in dark.
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