Derecognizing degrees obtained from J&K Is the state government of Bihar violating NCTE norms by derecognizing degrees obtained from J&K state universities? SETBACK ARSHAD BHAT Putting the career of thousands of students at stake, the state government of Bihar has derecognized the diplomas and degrees obtained from J&K state in violation of the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) norms. This has come as a setback to the education sector in J&K, especially to private colleges who enroll hundreds of students from outside the State. The Joint Secretary of Education Department of Bihar Government (vide its letter bearing No. 11/V1-15/2012/362 dated 1.03.2013) has written to its District Education Officers not to entertain B. Ed degrees as valid ones for job applications in the State of Bihar because “these degrees are not recognized by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE).” Derecognizing the degrees obtained from University of Kashmir and University of Jammu, despite the fact that J&K does not fall under the purview of National Council of Teacher Education (NCTE) norms, seems to be a motivated move to mislead the student community. Moreover, the universities of J&K are recognized by the UGC and are NAAC accredited ‘A’ grade universities. “The order has been issued at the behest of political parties in Bihar who are hell bent to flourish their own private colleges. By doing this they have created worries for the student community in Bihar,” says Praveen Kumar Pranav, a student from Banga, Bihar. “Actually they want to attract admissions in their own colleges and want to send a message to the students that doing diplomas and degrees from J&K State is useless.” Students who have passed their diplomas and degrees from universities of J&K state, and those who are now pursuing the same in the current Session 2012-13, say their money and precious time is wasted and they are uncertain about their future. National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) has put information about the validity of B.Ed degrees on their website ncte-india.org, wherein it is clearly mentioned that diplomas and degrees obtained from the Jammu and Kashmir State in teacher education is valid for employment in other parts of the country. Besides this, the gist of the NCTE’s letter (bearing No. F.No.49-21/2005/NCTE (N&S) dated May 31, 2007) addressed to All Education Secretaries, All States of Govts/UTs, reads: “The NCTE Act 1993 extends to the whole of India except the State of J&K.” The issue of validity of degrees in teacher education obtained from the State of Jammu and Kashmir has been attracting attention of NCTE and MHRD for quite some time now. Now the MHRD has given the following clarifications: “Persons who have obtained degrees from institutions recognized by the Govt. of J&K/UGC would be eligible for employment in Central Govt. and other States; and b) As the NCTE Act does not cover the issue of admission in Institutions for higher qualifications, the eligibility of persons with degrees from institutions in J&K will not be governed by the provisions of the NCTE Act but by the relevant laws/rules/regulations of the respective States/Universities.” This clarification is telling and is self-explanatory for those who are having any doubts about the validity of the diplomas and degrees obtained from J&K State universities. “The Bihar government seemed to have deliberately issued this order in February this year so that the candidates in Bihar in the first instance apply for B.Ed Courses in the state of Bihar itself and not join the same course in J&K state,” explains another student, Arun Kumar presently studying in University of Kashmir. Every year thousands of students from different States like, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Bihar, Uttrakhand, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Orissa etc have been enrolling in universities for various courses in J&K, especially for Elementary Teacher Training Course (ETTC) and Bachelor of Education (B.Ed). The students have been getting government jobs in their respective States without any problem. Now the future of the staff, both teaching and non-teaching, working in these private colleges in J&K is in the dark as they may lose their jobs because de-recognition by State government of Bihar means minimum flow of admission which will ultimately affect the sustainability of these colleges. This is bound to create confusion among the student community in other States as they will have reservations in joining various courses in the J&K State. Moreover, the refusal of the Bihar government to entertain and honour the diplomas and degrees obtained from Jammu and Kashmir has pushed to the wall many students who have already obtained degrees from the J&K State and also dejected those who are presently pursuing their diploma and degree courses in the State. Students say government of Jammu and Kashmir must come to the rescue of the students of Bihar and communicate with the Education Department of Bihar state government so that they will immediately withdraw their order as NCTE guidelines clearly mention that J&K state does not come under the purview of NCTE. “We have already taken up the matter with Bihar Government and we are hopeful they will withdraw the order in the light of the NCTE circulars in which the NCTE has made it abundantly clear that the NCTE recognition is not required for J&K Institutions and Universities,” says Prof G Mustafa Shah, Dean College Development Council, University of Kashmir. “The non-local students who obtain degrees from J&K are eligible for different posts in their respective States and in the central departments at par with other candidates.” Prof. Shah further says that Allahabad High Court has issued a double bench judgment dated: 9th April, 2011 with regard to recognition of the B.Ed obtained from J&K. Moreover, two High Court judgements from Rajasthan titled ‘Veena Khan V/s State of Rajasthan’ and others and ‘Azhar-ud-Din V/s State of Rajasthan & others’ have also upheld the position with regard to the validity of B.Ed. degrees issued by the Universities of Kashmir and Jammu.
Posted on: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 07:46:09 +0000
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