PROF S.K.BHALLA
The Higher Education Department in Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory is passing through a very crucial as also critical phase so far as the implementation of New Education Policy (NEP) is concerned. Stationed at GCW, Parade, Jammu, no one knows what good the NEP cell constituted by the then Principal Secretary Mr. Rohit Kansal is contributing to academic excellence. The harsh reality is that the men and machinery required to implement the same in letter and spirit seem to be unaligned to meet this gigantic challenge. Most of them are burning midnight oil for kitchen postings by pleasing their masters’ rather contributing to the task assigned. It is a very serious proposition as future of our young aspirants is at stake and any laxity advertent or inadvertent can land us in an academic whirlpool.
Coming to the core issue, the Cluster University of Jammu (CLUJ) which unlike CLUK failed to come out of its infancy stage despite the fact that it was established seven years ago to impart education envisaged under NEP with special focus on vocationalization has miserably failed to realize the goals and objectives set by the PM Mr. Modi. Vividly, except personal agendas, those entrenched in CLUJ at its inception failed to contribute meaningfully to the detriment of the interests of the students and Nation at large. The examination and administrative chaos is no more a secret in CLUJ where focus is more on construction, purchase and further strengthening entrenchments of a few teachers who have earned ignominy for educational excursion. Busting this foul nexus in CLUJ is an acid test for Lieutenant Governor, Sh. Manoj Sinha for the amelioration of academic excellence in J&K UT.
It can be written with a sufficient application of mind that recently in the massive transfer exercise involving Principals, the HED faced severe criticism from society as well as staffers owing to unjustified favors extended to ‘Men Friday’ of HED. Repetition of same set of Principals within city limit especially in Women Colleges of Jammu has sent a wrong signal indicating either there are no competent women to lead or there is none among men except two to head these premier women colleges. The chair of Nodal Principal is also keep shuttling alongwith these two blue eyed Principals indicate that none of the lady Principal in Jammu region is capable of holding the office of Nodal Principal. Earlier also, a lady when appointed as Principal of prestigious GGM Science College, the seat of Nodal office was shifted to one woman college of Jammu where a male was superimposed as Principal to lead. This act of the authority was dubbed as disgraceful and undermined the caliber and competence of women folk. This all is merrily going on when the PM of the nation is leading no stone unturned for Nari Shaktikaran in society.
The sorry state of affair was witnessed in the relieving of some teachers who were considered in the academic circle as Indispensables and an integral part of select coterie of Principals. Ironically, this special category of teachers were snuggled in their respective colleges beyond a decade on flimsy grounds. It was only after repeated exposes by a news portal that the corrective steps were taken and ultimately, they were shunted out from their respective citadel lock stock and barrel. It was very unfortunate that the orders of Principal Secretary took months for implementation. A matter of massive introspection for Mr.Alok Kumar.
The worst has happened in wholesale reshuffling of non-teaching staff of government degree colleges. In the name of transfers, while majority of supporting staff swapped their place of posting within city colleges whereas, a bunch of non-teaching staff who are allegedly involved in examination malpractices have remained unscathed. There are rumors doing the rounds that some self-styled middlemen have also collected graft to ensure suitable adjustment. This is a matter for HED to rope in Crime Branch as well as Anti-Corruption Bureau to identify the pimps who are bringing bad name to the HED. Perform or perish is the mantra of PM who has reiterated that transformation of higher education institutions (HEI) is must for Viksit Bharat but the same is likely to be frustrated in our UT if the authorities fail to curb the pre 370 abrogation menace of kitchen postings. Oblivion on the part of HED to core objectives of NEP shall push our UT far behind rest of the country.
(The author of the article is a retired Principal of HED, J&K UT and is a prominent anti graft activist. The views expressed in the article are personal)