Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir has recorded an 18% increase in first-year college admissions, despite a lukewarm response to some newly established colleges and newly introduced courses, Education Minister Sakina Itoo said.
The minister said several new colleges are facing challenges related to land disputes, infrastructure and student enrolment. In some areas, disagreements over proposed college sites have delayed permanent construction.
Itoo said the government is working to strengthen newly established institutions and introduce skill- and employment-oriented courses, including programmes linked to tourism, horticulture, music and emerging fields.
The government is also considering courses such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Cyber Security and Remote Sensing at colleges with suitable infrastructure and faculty.
The latest figures indicate that while overall interest in higher education is growing, the government continues to face challenges in making new colleges and courses more attractive to students.
