SRINAGAR: The Higher Education Department has recorded an 18 per cent rise in first-year admissions this year despite difficulties in making newly established degree colleges fully operational and weak student response to some newly introduced courses, Education Minister Sakina Itoo told the Legislative Assembly.
Itoo was responding during the ongoing autumn session to concerns raised by a BJP MLA over a degree college in his constituency that is currently operating from only four rooms.
The minister said the government was facing difficulties in establishing permanent campuses for some new colleges, particularly where disputes had emerged over the land identified for their construction.
She said permanent construction could not proceed in areas where residents remained divided over the proposed site until the land-related disputes were resolved.
“If the land is given to us tomorrow, we will make the college as soon as possible,” Itoo told the House, urging concerned MLAs to intervene and assist in resolving such disputes.
She said the government was prepared to release funds for construction once the land issues were settled.
“The government is fighting on both sides,” Itoo said, explaining that some residents wanted colleges at one location while others sought a different site. She asked elected representatives to help resolve such differences.
The minister also pointed to low enrolment in some newly established colleges, saying students continued to favour established “legacy colleges” even when newer institutions had infrastructure and teaching staff available.
Itoo said the government had introduced new and employment-oriented subjects in several new colleges, but some courses failed to attract sufficient students.
She said the department wanted to move beyond traditional subjects and introduce courses that could provide students with skills relevant to employment opportunities.
Subjects including tourism, music and horticulture are being introduced with the aim of responding to emerging opportunities and local requirements, she said.
However, Itoo said faculty could not be deployed indefinitely for courses in which there were no students.
She said the government would assess student demand before introducing or expanding courses in particular subjects.
“If students come and their percentage is good in any subject, we will introduce such courses,” she said.
Despite the challenges faced by the department in operationalising new colleges and attracting students to newly introduced courses, Itoo said first-year enrolment across higher education institutions had increased by 18 per cent this year.
She said the government’s approach was not limited to increasing the number of colleges but also focused on offering courses aimed at developing skills and improving students’ employment prospects.
