250 Graduates say careers at risk
Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, May 18: A group of students from Sher-e -Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura, today alleged that their B.Sc Medical Technology degrees are not recognised outside the institute, leaving nearly 250 graduates struggling to secure jobs and professional registration.
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The protesting students said the course was introduced by SKIMS and admissions were conducted through the Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (BOPEE).
However, they claimed that after completing the programme, they discovered that the degree lacked registration with the relevant authorities, making them ineligible for jobs outside SKIMS.
“We secured seats through BOPEE and joined the course at SKIMS. Later, we came to know that the course is not registered and the degree is not considered valid for posts outside SKIMS,” one of the students said.
The students alleged that despite repeatedly approaching the SKIMS administration over the past several years, no concrete steps had been taken to regularise or register the course with the concerned bodies, including the Allied Health Council.
According to the students, many graduates were denied employment opportunities after employers reportedly termed the degree invalid due to the absence of proper recognition and registration.
“We have been fighting for the last six to eight years to make our degrees eligible for jobs outside SKIMS, but nothing has happened so far,” another student said.
The students also raised objections over the recent advertisement of certain posts at SKIMS, alleging that eligibility criteria were being modified to accommodate candidates from outside the institute while long-pending issues concerning existing SKIMS graduates remained unresolved.
“We are not against anyone being made eligible for SKIMS posts. Our only demand is that the administration should first ensure recognition of our degrees outside SKIMS, which is its responsibility,” the students said.
The aggrieved students further claimed that they had taken up the matter with several officials, including the Health Minister, but no resolution had been reached so far.
They also alleged that the administration had informed them that the course may eventually be discontinued under National Medical Commission (NMC) norms, raising concerns about the future of those already enrolled or graduated.
“We are around 250 students whose careers are at stake. The Government and SKIMS administration must intervene and save our future,” the students said.
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