Halt on seeking education in Pak stirs hornets’ nest
Srinagar: The government of India’s directions to J&K state over discouraging students from taking admissions in PaK educational institutions has evoked massive debate from various quarters with stakeholders asking New Delhi to keep education politics free.
Recently, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) shot a letter to J&K government asking it to caution Valley students from taking admissions in the educational institution in Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK).
The AICTE has stated that the PaK educational institutions were not recognized by Medical Council of India or University Grants Commission (UGC) and asked the students to refrain from enrolling in these institutions.
The letter was shot after cases of 25 students pursuing higher education in PaK educational institutions were sent to Indian high commission in Islamabad for seeking their attestation on the degree certificates.
“AICTE doesn’t recognise educational institutions in PaK as per policy of Government of India,” the letter reads which has been shot to J&K government.
In wake of this, Private Schools Association of Jammu and Kashmir (PSAJK) slammed that AICTE for issuing directives to J&K students citing that such moves negate the basic principle of SAARC cooperation.
“India is part of SAARC group and all educational institutes in all the countries should be treated at par. One cannot pick and choose educational institutes in a particular region,” said Chairman PSAJK, G N Var.
He said these moves not only adversely impact the education of hundreds of students but will also have serious ramification in the larger run.
“The SAARC group and all associated agreements have been honoured through many decades and hostile conditions including war and suddenly barring PaK educational institutes in PaK is beyond comprehension,” Var said.
He appealed the Government of India and J&K administration to keep educations out of ambit of politics.
“We have always pleaded for politics free education so that our students in the State can excel at national and international level. It is unfortunate that prestigious institutions are trying to politicize the education for political gains,” he said.
Already, UIGC has also issued advisory asking students not to enroll themselves in PaK educational institutions which have raised concern among masses as dozens of students are already pursuing various courses in PaK institutes.
Meanwhile, Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq termed the advisory as unreasonable diktat saying that government should not play politics with the career of Kashmiri students.
“Those in power should not play politics with the career of Kashmiri students and take back this unreasonable diktat,” Mirwaiz said.
Terming the decision as unfortunate he said such moves not only politicise the education but violates the fundamental right of students to seek education anywhere across the globe.
“The decision has put the career of those studying in Pak in jeopardy and uncertainty,” he rued.
KV Correspondent
