Leh: Asserting that Higher Education has transformed in Union Territory since 2019, the Commissioner Secretary, Padma Angmo, IIS said that strength of students in colleges is increased by 25 percent and Ladakh students to soon have reserved seats in Engineering college across India.
On August 5, 2019, the Union Government bifurcated Jammu & Kashmir and make two Union Territories Ladakh, J&K.
Join our whatsapp group for more updates.
In an Exclusive conversation with Indus Dispatch, Commissioner Secretary Higher Education, Technical Education Social Welfare Information, Padma Angmo IIS, shared insights about initiatives taken so far to realise Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to make Ladakh first carbon-neutral Union Territory of India.
Higher Education after Ladakh Become Union Territory.
She said that Ladakh get Union University in 2019. “University of Ladakh has met the aspiration of people and after completing 3 years completed, the varsity is providing opportunity to students to take up higher education in the Ladakh,” she said.
She further informed that the subject has been increased as well as strength of students reached to more than 529 students this year from 45 -50 in initial days.
“In total, student’s strength in higher education has been increased by 25 percent as students are opting Ladakh for higher education,” she said adding earlier they had no option for post-graduation.
“Even today good numbers students are going outside, but our enrolment has increased as the administration revamped infrastructure, new subjects added and over the three years we have increased number of streams as per the demand of students,” she said.
She added University of Ladakh has to campus in Leh and Kargil.
“Now, we have colleges even in remote areas and more new colleges are coming up that should be able to cater maximum population of Ladakh,” she said.
Improving education & enrolment in Far flung areas
She added that schools will improve in coming future as administration has started exercise to provide hostel facility. “If we have to improve schools, I think residential facility must be established,” she said.
She informed that the administration has revived proposal for setting up EkLavya model schools. She said that three Eklavay model schools will be established in Leh, Kargil and Sankoo. “This residential facility will be going help a lot,” she added.
Also Watch | Helicopter Service, E-Vehicles and more of Ladakh: Saugat Biswas speaks
Skill Development
She said it is very clear in National Education Policy (NEP) that education is incomplete without skilling. “Students become educated but they don’t have employability skills because this is time of technology and skills are required,” she added.
She also said that Ladakh has 2 each polytechnic, ITIs colleges and all colleges skill enhancement is prime focus.
“We have recently organised Ladakh Education fair in collaboration with Ladakh skill development mission,” She said adding they invited experts to assess which skills are favourite among students.
She further said that they also focus on entrepreneurship. “We are trying to collaborate with IITs to enhance entrepreneurship skills,” she added. She further Ladakh has huge potential for startups.
Watch| Snow cutters to make winters life in Ladakh easy, enjoyable, says Ajeet Sahu
Engineering colleges
She said as you there is proposal for the establishment of engineering college in Ladakh. “So, we have decided to start something immediately and IITs accepted our proposals. This will result to have some local faculty,” she said.
Watch | Leh, Kargil to emerge as clean, serene towns, says Sanjeev Khirwar
Centrally Sponsored Scheme
She said that Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS) is very popular in Ladakh and administration has organised many camps. “Around 4000 students registered for this scheme, which is record,” she said.
Besides, PMSS, she said Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Ministry of Minority Affairs have scholarships schemes for students of Ladakh.
She also said the Ladakh administration has also started REVA Scheme. “This scheme is irrespective of annual income for to 30 meritorious student of 12th class in each district of Ladakh,” she said.
She further informed that Ladakh administration has requested the ministry to reserve some seats for Ladakh students in engineering colleges. “ As Ladakh don’t have its own engineering college till now and AICTE has given in-principal approval,” she said.
She said that the administration is expecting some seats for Ladakh students in engineering colleges later this academic year.
