Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 18: Government has taken up development of infrastructure for new and existing higher education institutions at a massive scale so that students get the desired benefits at the earliest.
The development of campuses for new degree colleges, national level institutions and upgrading of infrastructure of existing ones has been taken up under wide range of schemes and special funds provided under the Prime Minister Development Package (PMDP).
This was stated by Minister for Education Syed Mohammed Altaf Bukhari while reviewing the academic and development activities here today at a high level meeting.
He said that Government firmly believes that no institution can achieve excellence without having standard infrastructure and faculty. ”Running classes is no achievement until we don’t have infrastructure and faculty as per standard norms”, he asserted asking the department to put in extra efforts to achieve the development targets.
Minister of State for Education, Priya Sethi was also present in the meeting which was attended by Jammu University Vice Chancellor, Dr R D Sharma, VC Central University Jammu, Prof Ashok Aima, VC Cluster University Jammu, Anju Bhasin, Commissioner Secretary Higher Education, Asgar Ali Samoon, senior faculty members of the three varsities, heads of various colleges of Jammu province, officials of R&B, JKPCC and other construction agencies.
Laying stress on academic activities, the Minister asked heads of institutions, especially Principals of colleges to engage with students to understand their problems and issues.
The Minister also stressed on minimizing outside interference in the educational institutions to keep inimical elements away from the academic environment.
Citing incidents of student protests in Kashmir, the Minister appreciated the role of the heads of maximum colleges in the Valley who did not let the situation go out of hand. He said such a role from a college head is highly appreciable.
The Minister also stressed on solving the issues of college faculty members including their promotion avenues. He asked the Higher Education Department to come up with a comprehensive proposal before Darbar move mentioning steps for solution of all outstanding issues of college and university faculty members.
Minister of State for Education Priya Sethi suggested for having regular counseling sessions for students in all colleges. “This will help students to decide the road map for their future, choose and strive for the field of their interest earnestly as also prevent them from falling prey to the disruptive elements,” she maintained.
The Ministers also issued certain direction with regard to the regulation of academic activities in higher education institutions including private colleges.
Stressing on maintaining high standards of education, Altaf Bukhari asked JU to conduct the admissions for private B.Ed colleges through its own setup. He said this is necessary to maintain and streamline the functioning of these institutions.
Earlier, Commissioner Secretary gave a power point presentation on the physical and financial achievements of the department under different schemes and funds sanctioned for development of infrastructure for newly approved institutions for J&K.
He also gave details about the working of National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar and Government College for Engineering & Technology (GCE&T), Jammu besides newly sanctioned institutes like Indian Institute of Management (IIM) at Jammu with out-campus at Srinagar, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Jammu, Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Srinagar, which will offer integrated 5 year MSc Degree Course from 17-18.
It was informed that 2 new engineering colleges have also been sanctioned for the State. He also gave details of funds for the newly sanctioned institutions provided under PMDP.
Meanwhile, Higher Education Department went online with launch of its official website.
The website was launched by the Minister for Education, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari and Minister of State for Education Priya Sethi.
The official website www.jkhighereducation.nic.in provides detailed information about the working of the department and the vast network of higher education institutions spread across the length and breadth of the State.
On the occasion, the department also launched its Newsletter – EduPlus Emerging Trends and brought out its inaugural issue.
The newsletter provides an insight into the progress and activities of the department in academics and on the development fronts.
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