Low enrollment limits expansion of public admin courses: Sakeena Itoo

Srinagar, Feb 5: The J&K government on Thursday informed the Legislative Assembly that meagre enrollment of students was a constraint in expansion of the Public Administration subject in Colleges and Universities.

This was stated by the minister for education Sakeena Itoo while replying to a question raised by MLA Irfan Hafeez Lone. Lone asked the government about the status of Public Administration Course being offered at College and University level. The minister informed the House that Subject was offered in a limited manner across several universities and Government Degree Colleges (GDCs) across J&K. The House was informed that the low student enrollment has restricted its wider expansion.

Sakeena Itoo informed the House that at present Public Administration was being taught at the undergraduate level in 14 GDCs across J&K.

The colleges include Srinagar Women’s College Zakura, Government Sheikh-ul-Alam Memorial Degree College Budgam, Government Degree College for Women Kathua, Government Women’s College Baramulla, Government Degree College Doda, Imtiyaz Memorial Government Degree College Shopian, Government Degree College Udhampur, Government Degree College Tangmarg, Government Degree College Anantnag, Abdul Ahad Azad Memorial College Bemina, Government Degree College Tral, Government Degree College Baramulla, Government College for Women Parade Ground Jammu and Amar Singh College Srinagar.

The Minister further said that recent admissions in Public Administration ranged from as low as one student in Srinagar Women’s College Zakura to 83 students at Amar Singh College Srinagar, with several colleges reporting enrollments below the prescribed minimum.

“The student enrollment in Public Administration in most of the colleges is well below the adequate level, indicating limited demand for the subject at present,” the Minister informed the House. "Wherever enrollment remained below the minimum threshold of 10 students, the programme was not offered during the academic session," she said.

Sakeena Itoo said the focus of the Higher Education Department was on improving enrollment levels and ensuring optimal utilisation of resources in colleges where the course is already functional. She further said that introduction of new courses or subjects was strictly demand-driven.

“Once a college identifies sufficient student interest, it submits a formal proposal to the department, which is examined subject to availability of infrastructure, faculty and other required resources,” she said. Regarding universities, the minister said that Public Administration is already being offered at the undergraduate level in certain affiliated colleges, while the University of Kashmir has introduced a Master’s Programme in Public Administration (MPA) in 2023 with an approved intake of 30 students, marking a phased expansion of the discipline at the postgraduate level.