Minister for Education, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, Friday stressed the need for imparting technical and professional education on modern lines.The Minister made these remarks at a meeting he chaired to review functioning of higher education scenario in the State. On the occasion, Bukhari also announced that six new colleges— 3 each in Jammu and Kashmir divisions will start academic sessions from this year.Of the new colleges, he said Government Colleges of Engineering and Technology will start functioning at Safapora in district Ganderbal and at Janglote in district Kathua. Further two Schools of Architecture will be set up at GDC Bemina in Srinagar and MAM College at Jammu; while as Nursing Colleges will be established each at Women College Gandhi Nagar in Jammu and at Women’s College MA Road in Srinagar.The meeting was informed that Colleges of Engineering and Technology shall run as constituent colleges of University of Kashmir and University of Jammu respectively and the first batch in Kashmir shall start from July and in Jammu from September 2017.
Whereas, the Schools of Architecture shall start class work from academic session (September 2017) and University of Jammu and University of Kashmir shall grant necessary affiliation.It was said that the Colleges of Architecture shall start functioning from July in Kashmir and from October in Jammu and similarly University of Kashmir and University of Jammu will grant temporary affiliation to these Nursing Colleges. On the occasion, the Minister directed the concerned officials to hire a single common building (preferably alongside bypass road at Srinagar and Jammu) for Schools of Architecture and Nursing Colleges.During the meeting, the Minister was also appraised about the developmental works being carried out at different educational institutions in the State. He asked the concerned executing agencies to expedite the work and start working in double shift and complete all the development works in a time-bound manner.The meeting was attended by Commissioner Secretary Higher Education, Vice Chancellors from Kashmir University, Jammu University, Cluster University of Kashmir, Cluster University of Jammu, Principals from various Government Degree Colleges and other concerned officials.