Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 6 : Advisor to Chief Minister, Prof Amitabh Mattoo, today chaired a meeting to review the status of work being carried out by Working Group constituted to chalk out modalities for operationalization of Knowledge Initiative in Jammu and Kashmir. The meeting was co-chaired by Minister for Education, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari.
The meeting was attended by Financial Commissioner (Coord-ination)/ Resident Commission J&K Government, New Delhi K.B Aggarwal; Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Rohit Kansal; Commissioner Secretary Higher Education, Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon, Registrar Jammu University and other concerned officers.
During the meeting, the Minister for Education observed that the Working Group should expedite formulation of short term as well as long term plans to be put forth to the Government in order to increment the skill development aimed at enhancing employability in the State.
As a part of its first initiative, Bukhari said, the Working Group will frame a proposal recommending the government for establishment of a Horticulture University in J&K. This University, he said, will have its off campuses in the State.
The Minister for Education also advised the Group to recommend the amendment to be brought in qualification criteria from Matric pass to 8th pass at the entry level for the candidates seeking admission in certain technical diploma courses through ITIs in the state.
The Group was also unanimous to put forth establishment of J&K Open University that should come under the initial recommendations to be submitted to the government.
Bukhari also reiterated his plans for handholding of newly created Cluster Universities in the state. He urged Mattoo to supervise and monitor the academic side of the Universities in the State especially the two newly created Cluster Universities which are in the process of starting its academic sessions this year.
Vowing to make this knowledge initiative a huge success, Prof. Mattoo said that the Working Group will look for the best possible practical activities to revamp education system across J&K.
As part of enhancement of employability, the initiatives that the Working Group is likely to propose includes establishment of student counselling cells in each college and senior secondary schools which will be headed by faculty member of the concerned institute who will be trained as a counsellor.
The Group also agreed that the coaching for competitive exams and the awareness about various professions and job options should be given to students so that before leaving the college or schools so that they become well aware about their future endeavours.
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