Admission process in ITIs, Polytechnics across J&K badly affected due to curbs

JAMMU: The admission process in Industrial Training Institutes (ITI) and Polytechnic Colleges across the state is badly hampered due to restrictions imposed by union government following its decision to abrogate special status of the state and bifurcate it in two union territories (UTs)-- Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

“The classes of Industrial Training Institutes (ITI) usually starts in the first week of August but this time even the admission process has not been completed so far,” an official said, whishing anonymity. “Our admission process was already delayed due to the online admission system, which was introduced this year for the first time,” he said.

He added: “the last date for submission of admission forms for was August 5 but on the same day the restrictions were imposed in the state after union government introduced bills in the Parliament to repeal special status of the state and to bifurcate the state in two union territories.”

“Yes, the admission process was delayed and halted. The admission process will be resumed on the directions of higher authorities. However, we have not received any directions from the higher authorities,” Superintendent Technical Education, Jammu Division, Ruchi told The News Now.

“I don’t know whether admission process will be completed online or manually but it will start soon on the directions of higher authorities,” she added.

Similarly, the present situation of the state has also affected the admission process of Polytechnic Colleges across the state as the 60 percent seats are still vacant.

“Out of the approximately 5569 seats in polytechnic colleges, around 3000 seats (60%) were not filled after the 1st session of admission conducted by Board of Profession Entrance Examination (BOPEE),” Principal Government Polytechnic College, Jammu Arun Bangotra said.

“Following this, BOPEE invited applications for open admission to fill the vacant seats, for which the last date was August 15,” he said.
“The counseling session for polytechnic colleges for Jammu was completed but the counseling session for Kashmir division was not completed,” he said. However, he said no lists were notified by the board.

The Polytechnic Entrance Test (PET) is conducted by BOPEE. The colleges offer diploma courses in various fields of engineering like Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electronics & Communication Engineering, Auto-mobile Engineering, and computer Engineering and other.

“Now the admission process will be completed if the government extends the dates for the process,” he added.

Meanwhile, on August 16, the Supreme Court granted extension in admission dates in favour of J&K students selected under Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme.

The apex court granted extension at the request of the State Government in favour of J&K students for pursuing degree courses in allotted professional colleges/ universities outside J&K up to 15 September 2019.