LAHDC opposes Govt’s move to start Nubra College without adequate manpower, infra

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 10: Strongly opposing the Government’s move to start Degree College at Nubra without adequate manpower and infrastructure, the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh has asked the Government to learn a lesson from the fate of the Leh Degree College, which is plagued by acute faculty shortage even more than 15 years after its establishment, and don’t prefer political gains over the future of the students.
The foundation stone of Degree College at Deskit in Nubra valley was laid by the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah last year and recently the Higher Education Department decided to start classes in the rented accommodation and accordingly shifted Zoology Lecturer from Degree College, Leh to Degree College Nubra as Nodal Officer besides posting two more Lecturers of Arts.
However, the move was found as ill-conceived and ill-advised by not only the parents of the students from Nubra valley presently studying in the Leh College but also by the Councilors from the area on the ground that starting college without adequate manpower and infrastructure would amount to playing with the future of the students.
Enraged over the decision, the students of Nubra presently studying in the Leh Degree College approached the Chief Executive Councilor, Rigzin Spalbar and expressed unwillingness to study in the Degree College Nubra unless it is made fully functional. They also sought CEC’s intervention to retain their admissions in the Leh College.
Taking serious note of the opening of Degree College in Nubra valley in haste, Chief Executive Councilor today wrote a letter to the Minister for Higher Education, Mohd Akbar Lone and strongly recommended that Degree College Nubra should not be made functional this year and the students may be allowed to study in the Leh College until basic infrastructure and viable academic facilities are provided to the students of the region.
“The Hill Council is more than willing to start the Degree College at Nubra by providing it with standard faculty and academic facilities but not at the stake of the students’ academic career”, the CEC said in the letter, adding “due to lack of physical and academic infrastructure, the Hill Council has decided unanimously to retain and keep the students in Leh College keeping in mind the interest of the students of the Nubra valley”.
The CEC further said, “the fate of the Leh Degree College should be an eye opener for the State Government authorities, who have decided to start college at Nubra with meager manpower and almost no infrastructure”, adding “the Degree College Leh, which was established more than 15 years ago, is yet to have adequate infrastructure. Besides many administrative problems, numerous posts have been lying vacant for the last so many years”.
According to the CEC, the Commerce stream was introduced in 2010 but since then neither Lecturer has been posted not any post created. Similarly, Psychology was introduced in 2006 but no post has been created. Environment science has been without any post since its introduction. There has never been a SO, PTI, Librarian or Library Assistant. Moreover, there are five laboratories with only two Laboratory Assistants and without any lab bearer. Likewise, posts like that of Medical Assistant, Plumber, Gardner and Electrician have never been created.
“In view of the prevailing scenario, we feel that when we already have a college with numerous deficiencies it would be practically unviable for another college to operate in a remote valley with only two Lecturers”, Mr Spalbar said in the letter, adding “we also feel that it would be playing with the future of the students of Nubra region if the college is made functional this season without any adequate infrastructure.

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