To introduce Honor Courses, Govt prefers more colleges in Kashmir than Jammu

Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Jan 9: In yet another instance of apparent discrimination with Jammu, the Union Territory Government has preferred more number of Degree Colleges in Kashmir valley for introduction of Honor Courses under the New Education Policy.
The Department of Higher Education is learnt to have identified more than double number of colleges in Kashmir valley, and in some cases even three times, than the number in Jammu for introduction of the Honor Courses under different categories.
Official sources told the Excelsior that under the New Education Policy, four-year Honor Course (3+1) shall be introduced in 27 Government colleges across Kashmir valley whereas only eight colleges in Jammu division have been selected for the same.
Similarly, sources added, five-year Honor Course (4+1) shall be introduced in 12 colleges in Kashmir and five colleges in Jammu division while for the three-year UG courses (Honors), 26 colleges from Kashmir and only 12 from Jammu division have been identified.
The only category, for which more Jammu colleges have been selected, is the Honors (4+1) with Ph D. The GGM Science College, GCW Parade, GCW Gandhi Nagar, Govt College for Education Jammu, GDC Udhampur, GDC Doda and GDC Rajouri have been identified for introduction of this category of Honor course (4+1 with Ph D).
While elaborating, sources said that for introduction of Category -II Honor Course (4+1), the Higher Education Department has identified Sri Pratap College, Srinagar; GCW, MA Road Srinagar; A S College, Srinagar; AAAM College, Bemina; Islamia College of Science and Commerce, Srinagar; GCW, Nawakadal; GDC Baramulla (Boys); GDC, Baramulla (Women); GDC, Sopore (Boys); GDC, Anantnag (Boys); GDC, Anantnag (Women); GDC, Pulwama (Boys) in Kashmir division and GGM Science College, GCW Gandhi Nagar, SPMR College of Commerce, MAM College and GDC Samba in Jammu division.
For Category-III (4 years Honors, 3+1), colleges identified in Kashmir valley are SP College, Srinagar; GCW, MA Road Srinagar; A S College, Srinagar; AAAM College, Bemina; Islamia College of Science and Commerce, Srinagar; GCW, Nawakadal; GDC Baramulla (Boys); GDC, Baramulla (Women); GDC, Sopore (Boys); GDC, Anantnag (Boys); GDC, Anantnag (Women); GDC, Pulwama (Boys), GDC Pulwama (Women); GDC Handwara, GDC Kupwara, GDC Bandipora, GDC Dooru, GDC Ganderbal, GDC Budgam, GDC Beerwah, GDC Magam, GDC Tral, GDC Bijbehara, GDC Kulgam, GDC Shopian (Boys), GDC Pattan and College of Education while the Jammu colleges identified for this course (Category-III) are GGM Science College, GCW Parade, GCW Gandhi Nagar, SPMR College of Commerce, MAM College, GDC Samba, GDC Rajouri and GDC Nowshera.
Sources said that the list of these colleges has been provided to the affiliating universities asking them to prepare the syllabi/curriculum of these Honor Courses to be introduced from the next session.
When contacted, Director College, Prof Yasmeen Ashai said that the colleges have been identified on the basis of their potential for introduction of Honor Courses following a basic exercise done by the Higher Education Department.
“Potential of these colleges was assessed on the basis of their existing infrastructure, NAAC score, faculty position and willingness of the concerned Principals,” she said.
In response to the query that number of identified college for introducing the Honor Courses was more in Kashmir than Jammu division, Prof Yasmeen claimed that the number was not final and may change. “More Jammu colleges have been identified for Category -I (4+1 and Ph D) while in case of Category-II and III, the number may increase in Jammu division and decrease in Kashmir valley after the inputs solicited from Vice-Chancellors of the affiliating universities, who will conduct meetings with the college Principals over the introduction of Honor Courses,” she said, adding that Category-IV (three years Honors) shall be introduced in all the colleges across J&K Union Territory from next session.