SRINAGAR: Minister for Higher Education, Sakeena Itoo, on Tuesday reviewed the ongoing admission process in Government Degree Colleges across Jammu and Kashmir and called for sustained reforms to make higher education more accessible, inclusive and responsive to students’ aspirations.
Chairing a review meeting, the Minister assessed the admission status in colleges across the Union Territory and directed the Higher Education Department and college authorities to intensify awareness and outreach campaigns in institutions recording comparatively low enrolment.
She emphasised that principals and faculty members should actively engage with students and parents to create awareness about academic programmes, scholarship opportunities and career prospects available in Government Degree Colleges.
During the meeting, the Minister was informed that colleges have witnessed a significant increase in admissions this year following the introduction of several measures aimed at simplifying the admission process.
Sakeena Itoo, who has been closely monitoring admissions, said the government remains committed to strengthening the higher education sector and ensuring that every eligible student has access to quality education.
She said the reforms introduced by the government have helped reverse the declining trend in college admissions witnessed in recent years and expressed hope that enrolment would cross the 50,000 mark after the completion of the next two rounds of admissions.
While noting that legacy colleges continue to attract higher demand, the Minister stressed the need to expand course options and strengthen student welfare measures to make colleges more attractive to aspiring students. She said walk-in admissions have been facilitated through an in-house online portal to ensure that no eligible student is denied an opportunity to pursue higher education.
The Minister said principals have been given flexibility to take student-centric decisions during the admission process and directed officials to closely monitor admission trends, particularly in colleges where enrolment remains below expectations.
She also sought feedback from principals regarding the persistent decline in admissions to certain subjects and called for measures to arrest the trend. Stressing the need for academic diversification, she said neighbouring colleges should offer different courses instead of identical programmes to optimise resources and provide students with wider academic choices.
Sakeena Itoo directed colleges to ensure the early commencement of classes to prevent academic loss and emphasised the need for rationalisation of faculty to ensure optimum utilisation of teaching staff across institutions.
The Minister also advocated the introduction of courses in emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Econometrics and skill-linked hybrid programmes, to align higher education with changing industry and academic requirements.
She said the government is focusing on enhancing the employability of students through industry-oriented initiatives and skill development programmes so that graduates are better equipped for meaningful employment after completing their education.
