Upgradation of degree colleges as per public requirements, not political interference: Education Minister

SRINAGAR: Minister for Education, Sakeena Itoo today said that the 52  newly sanctioned degree colleges are being made fully functional before any proposal will be taken for opening new degree colleges across Jammu and Kashmir.

The Minister stated this while replying to a clubbed question of Legislators, Nizamuddin Bhat, Dr. Rajeev Kumar Bhagat, Muzaffer Iqbal Khan, Choudhary Akram and Dr Rameshwar Singh regarding establishment of Degree Colleges, in Legislative Assembly today.

The Minister highlighted that the upgradation of degree colleges across Jammu and Kashmir will not be on any kind of political interference, rather it will be as per the requirements of public. She also said that Health and Education sectors are very important sectors which reflect development of any society, adding that these sectors shouldn’t be looked with the prism of vote bank.

The Minister informed that for  establishment of Degree College at Manjakote, State Level Empowered Standing Committee has been constituted earlier  to examine the feasibility/ location and identify the un-served areas for establishment of Colleges. She added as per feasibility report submitted to the Administrative Department the land measuring 72 Kanals 15 Marla  in  Village Lower Saroola, 9 Kanals in Village Lower Mangar (Nagar) and 56 Kanals custodian land at Talwad at village Dehri Dhara was made available for the establishment of college.

Regarding establishment of Degree College Arnia, the Minister said that the department of Higher Education is receiving demands from different sections of society including MLAs which are being evaluated as per feasibility parameters on the subject. She added that as per the feasibility report for opening of Degree College Arnia, Jammu is concerned, the existing GDC R.S. Pura and GDC Bishnah being approximately 17 Kms away, serve the educational needs of the area. She also said that besides these, 7 Degree Colleges are operational in the Jammu District, and with the current enrollment patterns at GDC RS Pura and GDC Bishnah, the focus remains on enhancing the existing institutions. She further said that the establishment of  new Degree College in the vicinity may be reassessed upon achieving optimum enrolment and operationalization capacity at GDC RS Pura and GDC Bishnah.

Regarding establishment of Degree College Lohai-Malhar, the Minister informed that the matter has been examined in the Department and it has been observed on the basis of feasibility report submitted by the committee constituted for the purpose, that it was decided to establish a Degree College at Lohai Malhar in view of remoteness/ topography of the area, as well as the distance from the nearest Degree College (i.e. 60 Kms from GDC Bani).

Regarding establishment of Degree College for Women in Bandipora, Education Minister said that the existing Government Degree College, Bandipora presently caters to the higher educational needs of the region, with an enrolment of 497 female and 530 male students. She added that in addition to GDC Bandipora, there are further 7 Degree Colleges operational in the district, each reflecting an almost suitable enrolment of female students vis-à-vis their male counterparts.

Education Minister further added that with the current enrolment patterns at GDC Bandipora and other colleges of the district, the focus remains on ensuring the delivery of quality education up to the required standards, and strengthening academic infrastructure.

Regarding Land for Degree College Surankote,  the Minister informed that Tehsildar Surankote has identified State land measuring 66 kanals at village Kotlaha, for the construction of the Government Degree College for Women at Surankote, adding that the land has been transferred to  Principal, Govt. Degree College, Surankote.