Bandipora, June 26: The shortage of teaching faculty and inadequate infrastructure in Degree College Bandipora is adversely affecting the studies of children in the educational institution.
“The college has more than 1500 students studying in eight different streams and has just 11 permanent faculty members. The shortage of staff is adversely affecting the studies of students in streams of History, Sociology, Kashmiri and Economics,” sources told Greater Kashmir, adding the Government had till date failed to fulfill all the 30 posts sanctioned for the college. 
“The authorities have sent numerous representations to the Higher Education department regarding fulfilling of these posts, but they have turned blind eye towards the issue, marring the career of students,” sources added.
The college, established in 2005 is catering to the students of various rural pockets of the Bandipora. “We need at least 30 faculty members to conduct the classes effectively,” a permanent faculty in the college told Greater Kashmir on the conditions of anonymity.
He said the college also lacked infrastructure. “The college has few classrooms and the administration had urged the senior functionaries in the Higher Education to construct at least 40 more classes. But only 10 classes were added up,” sources revealed. 
According to the students, the college also lacked science laboratories which were imperative for conducting practical. “We are not able to conduct experiments in any of the science branches,” the students said.
Sources said the college was also without a full fledged principal, which was making things worse with respect to the administrative and teaching matters. 
When contacted, Minster for Higher Education, Abdul Gani Malik said “due to ongoing Panchayat elections, the appointment of principal couldn’t be made. However, all the vacant posts will be immediately filled up.”
Regarding lack of facilities, he said “I will visit the college to take the stock of facilities so that arrangements can be made at an earliest.”

Lastupdate on : Sun, 26 Jun 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 26 Jun 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 27 Jun 2011 00:00:00 IST