Assembly rejects Para’s bill, MLAs questions govt’s intent
Jammu, Mar 30: Minister for Education, Sakina Masood Ittoo on Monday said the government is examining a proposal on private universities.
Replying to the discussion, the minister, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the Minister said a framework for private universities is already under consideration by the Higher Education Department.
She said currently there is no private university in Kashmir but added that multiple representations for setting up such institutions have been received. “Once the proposal is finalised, the government will come up with a policy. All applications for establishing universities will be assessed on a case –to- case basis,” she said.
The minister urged the member to withdraw the bill in view of the ongoing process.
Talking to reporters later, Peoples Democratic Party legislator Waheed-Ur -Rehman Para accused the Jammu & Kashmir government of lacking intent to take new initiatives.
Para, as per KNO said, the government was failing to run and protect its own institutions while also ignoring proposals aimed at strengthening the education sector.
He said the bill proposed to set -up Sheikh-ul-Alam University at Pulwama would not have imposed any financial burden on the government.
He said the proposed university could have emerged as a major center of higher learning and excellence in the region.
He said that such an institution was needed at a time when Kashmiri students studying outside the Valley face safety concerns.
He said around one lakh students from Kashmir are pursuing education outside the region.
The legislator termed the government’s decision to oppose the bill as unfortunate, stating that it contradicted claims of improving the education sector. (KNO)
