New Delhi: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Member of Parliament Hasnain Masoodi raised the issues confronting education sector in Jammu and Kashmir in Lok Sabha, seeking proper and efficient implementation of National Education Policy 2020 on ground to make benefits reach the beneficiaries.
While participating in discussion on demand of grants for Education, Masoodi expressed concern over meager 2 percent increase in budgetary allocations for School and Higher Education emphasizing that the pandemic Covid-19 confronted education to new challenges, adding, education sector deserves better deal and higher allocation.
Masoodi expressed deep concern over drop in enrolment and increasing dropout rates at middle and secondary and higher secondary rates. He said the school education lacks infrastructure and adequate teaching staff and infrastructure problem impact school education in Jammu Kashmir more than elsewhere as sub-zero temperatures require a better accommodation.
Depreciating the practice of using school buildings to house security forces and as quarantine centers he said, “There ought to be a provision for supply of IT gadgets to students and teachers to make digital education accessible at grassroots. Higher education continues to be inaccessible to deprived segments of society as new university campuses and new universities though announced with much fanfare are not functional to the optimum level and provide no relief to the student community of the particular area. This apart the strength of faculty is far less than the minimum,” he said.
Masoodi demanded increase in the subject areas taught at South Campus Anantnag and corresponding increase in teaching staff and support staff. He also sought setting up an independent KU Campus at Kupwara to cater requirements of the students from far-flung areas of north Kashmir. He called for establishment of University at Kargil stating that Kargil was being denied University because of political reasons though it satisfies the criteria.
Demanding the regularization of Assistant professors engaged on a contractual basis for successive Academic Sessions in Universities and Colleges, he said the early regularization would end their uncertain future.
