‘JK lags behind in quality higher education’
2-day national seminar begins at CUK
Jammu and Kashmir continues to trail behind other states in higher education with only two universities having National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) accreditation. Meanwhile, none of the Indian universities figure among the top-notch universities of the world.
The concerns over the quality of higher education were expressed by academicians during a seminar organised by Central University of Kashmir in collaboration with NAAC Bangalore which began here on Thursday.
University of Kashmir and University of Jammu remain the only two institutes of higher learning in the State to have NAAC accreditation. University of Kashmir was re-accredited as Grade-A in 2011. University of Jammu has also secured ‘A’ grade.
Speaking during the inaugural session of the two-day seminar “Quality Concerns in Higher Education”, Dean and Head School of Education of CUK, Prof N A Nadeem said there was huge disparity in the number of quality educational institutes in J&K in comparison with other states.
“Karnataka has 18 universities and 352 colleges accredited by NAAC, whereas the figures for Tamil Nadu are 11 and 371, Andhra Pradesh 13 and 178, Haryana 2 and 148 and Punjab 2 and 109 respectively,” he said
“Rajasthan has nine universities and 95 colleges accredited by NAAC whereas J&K has just two universities and 44 colleges accredited by NAAC. Even Assam is up in the list having three universities and 50 colleges accredited,” Prof Nadeem said.
Head and Dean Department of Educational Studies, Central University of Jammu (CUJ) Prof Lokesh Verma said the mushrooming of educational institutions across India has adversely affected the quality of higher education.
“The number of colleges across the country has significantly increased. However, majority of the colleges lack proper infrastructure and faculty,” he said, adding that higher education and research were vital components for the growth of the nation and deserves more attention.
Prof Verma said none of the Indian universities figure among the top notch varsities of the world, adding that the faculty of these varsities has to put in strenuous efforts in this regard.
He also discussed several measures and steps to increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GRE) in the country.
In his inaugural address, Vice Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Prof A S Brar said the faculty members should also be evaluated on yearly basis.
“Those who have performed well should be rewarded suitably while the poor performers should be served the memo, asking them to improve,” Prof Brar said.
During his speech, Registrar of CUK, Prof Muhammad Afzal Zargar said education plays a vital role in overall growth and development of a nation. “The primary education provides a base while as higher education gives cutting edge to the students,” he said, adding that there is a huge dearth of educated youth in the job market.
“The seminar will provide a good platform to the academicians and experts to discuss and deliberate the issues regarding quality in higher education and come up with suitable solutions,” he added.
The seminar has nine technical sessions wherein 72 papers would be presented. Abstract of papers in the form of a souvenir and Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) Newsletter of CUK were also released on the occasion.