Srinagar: School Education Department (SED) Wednesday said that the candidates who have acquired degrees in Science subjects through distance mode are neither eligible for appointment as lecturers at the Plus-2 level nor for admissions to M.Phill or Ph.D. programmes.
This was revealed following the directions of a high-level committee at the University of Kashmir.
It is pertinent to mention here that several candidates had petitioned seeking inclusion in the seniority list of the Environmental Science discipline and for promotion to the post of Lecturer Environmental Sciences.
In response to the petitions, the Department has observed that the claim of the petitioners does not merit consideration based upon the observations and findings, and as such, the claim of the petitioners for their inclusion in the seniority list of Environmental Science discipline and consequent claim for promotion to the post of Lecturer Environmental Sciences is hereby rejected.
The ruling issued by the department read, “Environmental Sciences falls within the category of Science Stream where practical are the part of the curriculum and therefore such degrees are necessary to be obtained through regular mode only unless such courses are allowed specifically through Distance Mode by Distance Education Council (DEC) or All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).”
It also said that the issue regarding the validity of degrees acquired through distance mode was taken up with the University of Kashmir.
In reference to the referral, the Department was conveyed that, “The University in this regard has categorically communicated the decision regarding the distance mode degree, it is resolved by the high-level committee that candidates holding a masters degree in science subjects awarded through the distance mode from other universities are neither eligible for appointment as lecturers in the Higher Education Department (Plus-2) level nor for admissions to the M.Phill or Ph. D programmes.”
Stating the reason why the degrees cannot be perused, KU has said, “The laboratory component which forms an indispensable part of the curriculum and requires continuous guidance for the whole period of 4 semesters is not given its due importance in the distance mode learning.”
“Hence in light of the facts, it is clearly evident from the records and rules that the distance mode degree of PG in Ecology and Environment is neither recognized by the University nor equivalent to the corresponding PG Degree of Environmental Science, University of Kashmir, Srinagar,” reads the ruling issued by the Department.
