For concepts to be shaped into practical realities, elements of ambiguity should be totally absent. In other words, what is sought to be achieved should be clear especially when it is related in one or the other way to education and educational institutions. Rationalization of higher educational institutions has been mooted by the UT Government of Jammu and Kashmir which prima facie is not only one of the reforms desired to be made in the higher education imparting apparatus but clearly drawing a line between the overwhelming role of the administrative mechanism and comparatively lesser one by the faculty members in running and shaping these institutions of learning. Since prudence demands that such an exercise should be conducted by a team of experts drawn from not only the top higher education institutions but from other concerned departments and fields as well, so that they go into the entire process of pros and cons and submit the requisite report to the Government. A committee of officers, therefore, was constituted in early August this year to look into the entire gamut of rationalization of education institutions in the UT. So far so good but where is the considered report, is the main question.
At the outset, it needs to be fairly known whether net terms of reference were duly advised to the constituted committee ? Whether, again, the committee was explicitly told as to which of the higher education institutions needed to be rationalized ? Whether the basis and the set criteria that was required to be adopted for the purpose, was duly advised to the Committee ? Whether a model of rationalization prevalent in or having been employed by a few selected states in the country for the purpose was expected from the committee to go through and if found conducive as per the conditions in the UT, asked to be guided by such model ? Whether after the stipulated time period of 15 days, reasons of non-submission were attempted to be known ? On what basis and model, were new institutions asked to be planned to be opened ? Since clarity on these points is not precisely known, it may be due to that factor also that four months have been fritted away without any headway having been achieved.
Otherwise also, plainly speaking , the experience with constituting committees in Jammu and Kashmir for making vital studies in an important issue generally has been in the form of waiting endlessly for a report or so thus defeating the very purpose of such committees. Speaking not hypothetically, if constituting of panel of high ranking UT officers bear such a dismal response, why not to moot the idea of outsourcing requisitioning of experts to study the issue in depth and recommend measures and devise solutions so as to set an example, if not a precedence ? In the instant case, except one of the members on the committee, no one has shown any interest nor having otherwise any deliberations taken place which means no progress at all in respect of rationalization process. Administrative Department is expected to clarify that when on the one hand, the necessity of rationalizing of higher education institution is increasingly felt and even in several official meetings, the issue having been deliberated upon, why no progress is made in that direction so far.
In fact, what is seen is not only absence of proper monitoring but no enthusiasm shown by the Higher Education Department in having at least a reform of much required nature in higher education institutions implemented, Still, despite the net loss of four months, the committee can attend to its assignment and submit the report.
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