Minister reviews working of cooperatives in Leh

Amir Karim Tantray

Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 3

With limited educational facilities available in their respective areas, youth in Jammu and Kashmir are falling prey to unrecognised colleges and universities outside the state.

Many such institutions have opened their offices in the state and are luring youth who want to pursue higher education.

These institutions offer courses through distance education and ask aspirants to deposit money to get enrolled in a programme.

Students who are not aware about these unrecognised institutions generally fall prey to their tactics and waste time as well as money.

“We are not made aware about such institutions in our schools or colleges. When students fail to get admission in state universities, agents of such institutions come forward and woo them. They assure aspirants about degree and diploma certificates provided by their institutes. But when we present these degrees for employment, our forms are rejected,” said Yasir Hussain, a Kishtwar resident who holds one such degree.

There is a mushrooming growth of such facilities in the state and modus operandi of agents of these institutions is to lure those students who don’t get admission in local colleges and universities.

However, the Jammu and Kashmir Government is not taking any action against such institutions and is rather allowing them to flourish.

The Higher Education Department had sometime back issued a notification stating that degrees obtained by way of distance learning from such institutions were not valid in the state.

However, no such circular or notification had been issued which barred these institutions to open their offices in the state.

“We have clearly mentioned in the circular that degrees obtained through distance mode from unrecognised institutions are not valid in the state. It is up to students to check through various means about these institutions and don’t waste time and money,” said TA Kawoos, Director Colleges, J&K.