Aazan Manzoor
Srinagar, Feb 5 (JKNS): Minister for Education Sakina Itoo on Thursday said that the subject of Public Administration is already being offered in a limited manner across several universities and government degree colleges in Jammu and Kashmir, but low student enrollment has restricted its wider expansion.
In a written reply to a question raised by MLA Irfan Hafeez Lone, Minister Incharge Higher Education Department Sakina Itoo informed the House, as per news agency JKNS, that at present Public Administration is being taught at the undergraduate level in 14 government colleges across the Union Territory.
The Minister said these include Srinagar Women’s College Zakura, Government Sheikh-ul-Alam Memorial Degree College Budgam, Government Degree College for Women Kathua, Government Women’s College Baramulla, Government Degree College Doda, Imtiyaz Memorial Government Degree College Shopian, Government Degree College Udhampur, Government Degree College Tangmarg, Government Degree College Anantnag, Abdul Ahad Azad Memorial College Bemina, Government Degree College Tral, Government Degree College Baramulla, Government College for Women Parade Ground Jammu and Amar Singh College Srinagar.
Providing details, the Minister said recent admissions in Public Administration ranged from as low as one student in Srinagar Women’s College Zakura to 83 students at Amar Singh College Srinagar, with several colleges reporting enrollments below the prescribed minimum.
“It is pertinent to note that student enrollment in Public Administration in most of the colleges is well below the adequate level, indicating limited demand for the subject at present,” the Minister said, adding that wherever enrollment remained below the minimum threshold of 10 students, the programme was not offered during the academic session.
Sakina Itoo said the focus of the Higher Education Department remains on improving enrollment levels and ensuring optimal utilisation of resources in colleges where the course is already functional.
She further clarified that introduction of new courses or subjects is strictly demand-driven. “Once a college identifies sufficient student interest, it submits a formal proposal to the department, which is examined subject to availability of infrastructure, faculty and other required resources,” she said.
Regarding universities, the Minister said that Public Administration is already being offered at the undergraduate level in certain affiliated colleges, while the University of Kashmir has introduced a Master’s Programme in Public Administration (MPA) in 2023 with an approved intake of 30 students, marking a phased expansion of the discipline at the postgraduate level. (JKNS)
