Srinagar, June 14 (KNO) : Signifying the poor performance of the Kashmir University administration to run its offsite satellite campuses, the Kupwara campus is yet to be made functional by the varsity administration.
The offsite campus for Kupwara was announced more than five years ago with an aim to provide higher educational facilities to the students in the frontier district. “But the tall claims of the University administration has fallen flat as the campus is yet to be made operational since 2011,” an official said who is privy to the developments.
The students told KNO that the failure of the university administration to make the campus functional has exposed the laxity of the administration. “It has become a distant dream for us to see this campus functional here in district,” said Arshid one of the students in Kupwara.
The delay on part of the Kashmir University administration has added to the miseries of the students who have to move out of state to pursue their post-graduation courses. “There is a limited intake capacity in KU main campus and opting for other campuses is no different from moving out of state. It would have been better for the KU administration to make this campus functional which would increase the intake capacity as well,” the students said.
The residents while expressing their anguish against the KU administration told KNO that the establishment of satellite campus would have increased employment opportunity for locals who otherwise struggle to get their jobs.
The locals also told KNO that the construction of campus was halted few years ago due to some internal issues between the contractors and University authorities. It may be recalled that the satellite campus was announced Prof Talat during his first tenure here in 2011. The announcement was made with an aim to offer quality education to the students of Kupwara district.
There are around five to four degree colleges in Kupwara and Handwara town including adjoining areas where more than 1500 students graduate every year after completing their gradation course.
“But these students either opt for distance mode to complete their post-graduation or move out of state. Very few get selected at main campus given the tough competition among the students seeking admission for PG courses,” the students told KNO.
Registrar KU, Dr Nisar Ahmad Mir when contacted told KNO that the varsity administration has taken note of the issue and the construction of the campus will be started very soon after the confrontation between the contractor and varsity is resolved. “We are actively pursuing the issue. We want to make the campus functional as soon as possible,” Mir said. (KNO)