The State Government claims to be committed to providing the desired level of higher education facilities in the State but the ground reality is not as claimed. The Government college in Joshimath is one such example of official apathy endangering the academic future of the youths.
The Government college established in the border region of Joshimath in 1996 has so far failed to meet public expectations. Since its establishment till now, this college has been facing a protracted shortage of lecturers. On top of this, the absence of a full time principal has prevented the condition of the college from improving. The science stream was opened in this college in 2012 but the students had to face the problems resulting from shortage of teaching staff in this stream too. Eight subjects are approved at the graduate level in the college and two at the post-graduate level. However, in 2014 the college principal and two lecturers were transferred out of this Government college which has exacerbated the problems faced by the students here.
While the posts of teaching faculty for three subjects were vacant in the past, with the recent transfer the number of main subjects without teaching faculty has now increased to five. In science stream, posts of teaching faculty in three subjects are vacant. Two posts in the arts stream are occupied on contractual basis. On the other hand, another problem faced by the local youths and students is the changing of the last date for admissions.
It will be recalled that though the last date for admissions was stated as July 31 in the admission prospectus of the college, this date was altered to July 26 by the college administration. Due to this change, many youth were unable to secure admission in this college. This Government college is the only option of its kind for higher education for the youth living in the remote rural areas of this region.
However, the carelessness of the college administration is costing such youth dear, especially those who cannot afford higher education in private educational institutions in cities. When this correspondent contacted the Garhwal Central University registrar KS Rana on this issue he simply stated that he was the university registrar and the issues raised were not part of his responsibility.
.Observers point out that when an official employed by the university to take care of such issues is apathetic towards his responsibilities, the State of higher education in the State can be gauged as contradictory to the claims being made by the Government.