Jammu, March 16 (Scoop News) -Minister for Higher Education, Mohammad Akbar Lone has said that Government was going to start viable and job oriented courses in the colleges across the State enabling more and more educated youth to get job opportunities in the market.
Replying to the discussions on demand of Grants for Higher Education Department in the House today, the Minister said that Government has created a strong network of higher education by opening good number of colleges in the uncovered areas to improve the literacy rate in the State. He said this vital sector will continue to receive the attention of the Government and efforts will be made to plug the gaps.
Regarding opening of new degree colleges in the uncovered areas, the Minister said that Government has constituted a committee and all such demands will be examined on merit and norms to fulfil the aspirations of the people. He said functioning of University campus established in different parts of the State will be streamlined so that the benefits of these campuses reach to the needy. He announced that new University campus will be made functional at Leh, Kargil and Kupwara district during the next financial year.
Referring to the shortage of teaching staff in various colleges, the Minister said that the Government has created 1700 posts of different faculties and same will be referred to the PSC for early selection. He said the Government has also been considering absorbing permanently the adhoc/contractual teaching staff who have been engaged from time to time. The Government will examine this issue on case to case basis, said Lone.
Admitting the deficiency of technical/engineering colleges in the State to meet the requirements of students, the Minister said that Government welcomes private players to come forward and establish technical colleges. He appreciated the role of the private institutions in the education sector in the State for providing quality education and supplementing Government efforts. He asked the private institutions to fulfil the required para-meters regarding infrastructure and academic standards. In order to bring reforms in the present set up of education, the Government will hire the services of experts who will suggest how to improve the education scenario according to the modern trends and global requirements, said Lone.
To make judicious use of funds in the Universities and colleges, Lone said, the Government will strengthen the monitoring mechanism. The process of framing rules for Government College for Engineering and Technology, Jammu has been set in motion and issues regarding implementation of 6th Pay Commission have also been decided. The functioning of all colleges will be streamlined to ensure work culture, said the Minister.
Earlier, 16 members participated in the discussion on grants and gave their suggestions to improve the functioning of the department and upgradation of infrastructure. The members are Harshdev Singh, Qamar Ali Akhoon, Mohammad Sharief Niaz, Ashwani Sharma, Javed Ahmed Dar, Ashok Kumar, Aijaz Jan, Charanjeet Singh, Ashok Khajuria, Krishan Chander Bhagat, Nasir Aslam Wani, Prof. Chaman Lal Gupta, Mohammad Ashraf Ganai, Balwant Singh Mankotia, Jugal Kishore and M.Y.Tarigami.
Later, the House passed the grants amounting to Rs. 712.11 crore by voice vote.
Earlier, all the Members withdrew their cut motions after satisfactory reply from the Minister.