Nearly 60 percent of colleges in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir are yet to obtain National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) accreditation, raising questions about curriculum coverage and teaching-learning processes in higher education institutions.
According to Kashmir Media Service, an official document states, “Out of 147 colleges, presently 59 colleges have been granted NAAC accreditation.”
The Kashmir University secured the 48th rank, and the Jammu University secured the 66th rank among the top 100 universities in the country, according to the India Rankings 2021 by the Ministry of Education.
Regarding quality assurance, the official documents emphasise that Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) need NAAC accreditation to assess conformity to quality standards, including performance in educational processes and outcomes, curriculum coverage, teaching-learning processes, faculty, research, infrastructure, learning resources, organisation, governance, financial well-being, and student services.
“At least 30 colleges are in the process of starting research activities by establishing research hubs under the Hub and Spoke model,” the document states.
Additionally, 50 colleges have been identified to offer skill courses of level-4 of the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) from the basket of the skill sector council.
Regarding development and welfare programs, authorities emphasize that higher education will focus on various welfare programs.—KMS
