Higher education sector

There is a need to bring further improvement in the higher education sector.

A number of steps have been already taken and more such steps are needed. Strengthening the higher education sector is important for shaping the future of students in colleges and universities. Every year thousands of students get admission in different colleges in Jammu and Kashmir.

They include large number of those students also who fail to get admission in medical and engineering colleges. They generally feel that studying in colleges other than professional colleges is just a formality and leads nowhere, and only adds to the number of increasing unemployed educated youth. There is a need to change this mind set by making the higher education more meaningful and result oriented.

A recent meeting, chaired by Chief Sectary, Atal Dulloo, underscored the importance to prioritise the skill development avenues in higher education.

It was also observed that the collective focus aimed at delivering quality education aligns with the overarching goal of creating better employment opportunities for the youth. Chief Secretary observed that the quality of higher education institutions has a direct bearing on the potential of human resource. He added that the right kind of grooming and capacity building of youth in such institutions can safeguard their future for better.

According to official figures Jammu and Kashmir presently has nine universities and 142 government and 208 private colleges. Out of these colleges, 65 are National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) accredited, including five colleges having ‘A & above' Grade.

As per National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), Kashmir University and Jammu University stand at rank 33 and 63 respectively. Besides providing the quality education there is also a need to provide better infrastructure and other required facilities in colleges and universities. Wherever there is a need to construct new buildings it should be done to solve the problem of lack of space.

The problem of shortage of staff too must be addressed. Required facilities have to be made available in the newly established colleges. All measures should be aimed at providing better infrastructure and quality education in the higher education institutions across Jammu and Kashmir.