The government’s decision to introduce only those subjects in colleges of Jammu and Kashmir that are desired by the students is definitely a positive move.
It is the first time that such a step has been taken to take into account the choice of the young ones. The demand-led approach will help plug the lacunae in the education system of the UT.
Colleges in Jammu and Kashmir have been following a supply-led approach so far where courses which did not have scope in the job market were taught with little regard for the choices of the students.
As such many students have graduated in fields where there was no job market and could not find employment in the end. With the new approach, it will be possible to ensure that only those courses are taught in colleges which have demand in the market. This will keep the students engaged and enable them to do what they like and thereby deliver quality results.
Besides, it will also create a healthy competition between colleges so that they come up with new courses in emerging sectors.
Such courses could be related to data science, solar energy, tourism, media, and healthcare amongst others. The move will also encourage colleges to tie up with industries so that students get proper placement opportunities after graduation. It is also pertinent to note that the demand-led approach will offer choice to students who would otherwise not have studied history or philosophy or other subjects that were mandatory before.
To conclude, the demand-led approach to introduce courses in colleges of Jammu and Kashmir is a positive move that has the capacity to change the perceptions of thousands of students. It is a chance for the authorities to empower the students and show them that they do matter when it comes to decision-making.
The move has been positively received by the young ones and it is hoped that JK will witness a turnaround in its college education system propelled by the fresh approach and a positive mindset.
The new move will also support the National Education Policy wherein there is going to be more flexibility in choosing career options and education streams. It is only through positive attitude and flexibility that the proposed changes can be implemented successfully in the colleges of Jammu and Kashmir.
