The Government has decided to start the admissions for new Nursing Colleges, Schools of Architecture and Institute of Mathematical Sciences from this academic session.The decision to this effect was taken at a high level meeting convened by Minister for Education, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari here today. Minister of State for Education Priya Sethi was also present in the meeting.The meeting discussed wide range of issues concerning the academic activities in existing institutions of higher education and process of admissions in the newly established institutes, registration of candidates for Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS) for J&K, including provision for lateral entry of the candidates for degree courses who have obtained Engineering diplomas.
The meeting also held detailed review of pace of progress on construction of Government Degree College buildings, campuses for new institutes and renovation, upgrading of Infrastructure in existing GDCs under RUSA and other related matters.The meeting was attended by Commissioner Secretary, Higher Education, Asgar Ali Samoon, IGP Crime Branch, Secretary Law, Director Colleges, Director School Education, Jammu, representatives of All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), Technical Education Department, heads of colleges and other senior officials of Higher Education Department.After threadbare discussion, Minister for Education asked the authorities to go ahead with the admissions for these newly established colleges. Pertinently, Higher Education Department has established two new Nursing Colleges one each in Kashmir and Jammu, which will function from Women’s College MA Road Srinagar and Government College for Women Gandhi Nagar Jammu. Similarly, Schools of Architecture will function from GDC Bemina, Srinagar and MAM College Jammu, while the Institute of Mathematical Sciences has been sanctioned for Srinagar, which would offer 5 year degree course in Mathematical Sciences.
Reviewing the process for registration under PMSSS for J&K, Altaf Bukhari asked the school, college and AICTE representatives to go for a massive campaign to make the students aware about the scheme. He also called for close check on the touts and agents who may mislead the students on the plea of providing them admissions. He said from the past one year the government has done away with the process of admissions through NGOs after repeated complaints were received that many students were fleeced by the agents. The Minister asked the AICTE to publish advertisements in the print media clearly mentioning that no student should go to any NGO for admission.It was informed that around 2000 candidates have so far been registered for academic session 2017-18, while 5000 more are in process of submitting their documents. The registration is done online through AICTE portal.“A total of 5000 candidates from J&K are provided admission under PMSSS in reputed Engineering institutes of the country offering degree courses in various disciplines every year" the AICTE representatives informed. They said this year the AICTE has short listed around 100 colleges for PMSSS offering wide range of courses to facilitate candidates to go for the discipline of their choice. The online registration under PMSSS for academic session 2017-18 will be open up to 15 May 2017.Bukhari asked the district administrations to facilitate registration of candidates fort PMSSS through National Informatics Centres, especially in Kashmir province where internet connectivity is not available.
The Minister asked IGP crime branch to work in synergy with AICTE and education authorities to identify the elements, who may again try to lure the candidates. He asked for close cooperation of Crime Branch.The meeting also discussed the issue of lateral entry for the candidates who have completed diploma in engineering. It was informed that around 400 such candidates would be provided admission this year.Regarding the issue of past candidates, who could not get PMSSS benefits due to certain reasons, the meeting was informed that issue would be raised in the upcoming Inter Ministerial Conference being held shortly in New Delhi. The ‘PMSSS’, a Ministry of Human Resource Development sponsored scheme is being implemented by AICTE for providing students of J&K with poor economic background an opportunity to obtain professional degrees in various disciplines of engineering and other courses.
The Minister of state for education also laid special stress on intensifying campaign to create awareness about PMSSS among the students. She asked Director School education to take concrete measures in this regard. She also directed for early completion of up-gradation work in government Colleges under RUSA. Meanwhile, a deputation of Association of College Teachers also met the Ministers and projected their demands regarding promotions and other issues.The Minister for Education assured them that their issues would be resolved soon. However he advised the teachers to perform their duties with dedication and develop a positive environment for learning in their respective institutes. “The core aim of government and institutes is to impart quality education for those teachers have to get involved with students and own them. We are here to solve your issues but you too have to perform your duties to best of your ability,” the Minister asserted.