Belying the tall claims of government about upgrading and developing the educational sector in the rural areas of the state, Government Degree College in frontier Uri town in north Kashmir Baramulla district is without Principal from last two months thus affecting the academics badly.After the superannuation of ex-Principal Nazir Ahmad Sheikh in April this year, the post of principal lies vacant and nobody has been appointed in the college till date.“It has severely hit the academics and documental work of the college,” said a faculty member wishing anonymity.An insider told CNS that college is grappling with lack of basic infrastructure including proper classrooms, laboratory, library and playground. “The playground has not been maintained by the college authorities for many years thus stopping sport activities. While it also lacks proper fencing,” he said.Sofia Lateef, a student said that that around one thousand students from far flung areas of Uri and Boniyar tehsils are enrolled in the college but there are only six rooms for around thousand students.
“There are only six classrooms in which the students are receiving education rest of the classes have been occupied by laboratories, Herbarium room, Museum, Washrooms, Staffroom, Conference rooms and an auditorium of 300 seats capacity,” she said.Many students coming from far off areas of Uri also complain of lack of hostel facility in the college. “There should be the facility so that most of our time doesn’t get consumed in travelling only and we can focus on our studies,” said a student who comes from Kamalkote village located close to Line of Control (LoC).They further said that the higher ups were not serious about the problems faced by the students despite raising this issue a number of times.The college has been established in the year 2005 under the Prime Minister's Reconstruction Plan with an aim to create learning opportunities for the students if thus educationally backward and of hilly areas.Director Colleges Zahoor Ahmad Chatt said that the post of Principal will be possibly fulfilled next week.“There is a procedure that head of a college sent us a detailed proposal that what is needed for a college and we include it in our plan,” he said adding “The vacancy of the Principal will be fulfilled in next week.” (CNS)