Political influence marred our education sector: MLA Sopore

Baramulla, Nov 12: National Conference Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Sopore constituency Irshad Rasool Kar on Wednesday said that political interference marred the basic structure of the education sector in Kashmir.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the inaugural ceremony of the two-day national conference organised by Government Degree College for Women, Sopore, he said that the town got its degree college in 1951, which has yet to see any development on modern lines.

“The colleges which were established after Sopore Degree College have been upgraded as the constituent colleges of Cluster University. In Sopore, we are yet to upgrade the infrastructure,” he told reporters.

He said no new courses are being introduced in Sopore college, which would make it the first choice for the students. “We (Sopore town) are lagging in the education sector,” he said.

He said an amount of Rs 10 crore has been allocated for the two degree colleges of Sopore for the establishment of new academic blocks.

About the strengthening of the foundational stage (primary and middle schools) of the education sector, MLA Sopore said the new schools were set up based on the political interferences which marred the basic purpose of these schools.

“The existing infrastructure of these schools is in shambles because these schools were set up on a political basis. This is the reason our education sector is weak,” he said.

He said that with the opening of new schools, the resources got divided, and the basic purpose of education was defeated. “We could not make better schools in the government sector; that is why the private education sector is getting promoted these days,” he said.

He said the college, which organised the much hyped two-day national conference on frontiers in basic science, does not have a proper auditorium and is holding such events in a prefab hut. “This speaks volumes about the standard of the education sector here. Not only me as an MLA, but people are also unhappy with it,” he said.