The Minister for Education Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari today said that provision for adequate faculty in colleges has been flagged as priority by the state government. Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti has issued clear directions that no school or college be made to suffer due to shortage of staff and the department has speeded up the process for appointing teachers on academic arrangement both for schools and colleges. Addressing students and staff after laying foundation stone of new geography block here at Women’s Government Degree College, the Minister asked the college and schools heads to immediately convey the staff requirement to the higher authorities as strict directions have been issued to avoid loss of students’ studies due to inadequate faculty.Women College Udhampur, established in the year 1986, has present enrollment of 2700 students studying in three major streams of science, arts and commerce.The Minister announced construction of a Hostel, upgrading of science block, construction of canteen block in the college, while he set 9-month deadline to complete the Rs 5.37 crore geography block, the work for which was started today.The Local MLA Pawan Gupta, Director Colleges Prof Zahoor Ahmed Chat, Deputy Commissioner was also present on the occasion.
The Minister asked the heads of educational institutions not to miss the vital facility of providing safe drinking water and sanitation in the campuses. He said for quality education there is need to have quality facilities for students including a clean lavatory block. He asked college managements to utilize the local funds for upgrading such facilities so that the students do not face any problem.“There is need to create inspiring ambience wherein the students develop a feel-good sense and take extra attention in their studies” Minister asserted adding that consolidation of infrastructure in the institutes of higher learning is being paid special attention. He announced hostel for the women college upgrading of science block including laboratories, canteen block, expansion of staff room and Wi Fi facility in the campus.The Minister informed that state government has roped in Jeo Reliance Company for providing Wi Fi Facility in all Colleges of the state. Earlier, the MLA Udhampur, Pawan Kumar Gupta highlighted the importance of the woman college Udhampur and said that it caters to the girl students from across the district. He said there was urgent need for up-grading of the infrastructure in view of increasing enrollment.