The higher education department has decided to set up career counseling cells and internal committees to probe the complaints of sexual harassment under the Vishakha guidelines in degree colleges across Kashmir.
The decision to setup career counseling and placement cellshas been taken in a bid to help students in finding jobs and employmentopportunities after graduating from the concerned institutions.
“It will also help the department to keep a track of thestudent progression and will explore possible tie-ups, industrial trainings andopportunities,” an official said.
These decisions were taken during a review meeting convenedby the secretary higher education department with Degree College principalslast month.
An official who was part of the meeting said the departmentwants to implement these new initiatives in the colleges for which the specialsecretary and nodal Principals of the colleges in Jammu and Kashmir divisionhave been asked to report to secretary fortnightly.
The move to set up placement cells comes at a time when theoutgoing college students face the challenges of unemployment as their coursesare not in proportion with the market demands. “The department has also decidedto review the courses offered in colleges and make them in line with the marketdemands so that students get acceptability in jobs,” the official said.
The college principals have also asked to ensureestablishment and proper working of internal complaints committees againstsexual harassment.
“Department is also focusing on quality enhancement andemployability of students for which it was decided in meeting to introducetechnical, IT based and other skill based education after active consultationwith the industrial, trade and corporate sector of the valley,” read theminutes of the meeting released by the department.
The department has also directed the principals to holdparent-teacher meetings in colleges to ensure full participation of allstakeholders in the academics.
“A system of software to monitor the student attendanceshall be introduced in colleges. The progress and punctuality of their wardsshould be shared with the parents,” read the minutes.
In the meeting, the college principals were directed toexplore the possibility of setting up coaching centres in colleges that wouldcater to various competitive exams and specified programmes.
“College principals should also participate in academicactivities and willingly take up class work in their respective fields. Theirparticipation will bring their experience into the academics and also make themabreast of the practical problems faced by students and teachers in learningand teaching process,” read the minutes.
The department, as per the minutes of the meeting, is alsomulling to make programme specific and course specific outcomes uniform for allcolleges in consultation with the affiliating universities.