The messy state of affairs of the Kashmir University satellite campus, Leh is becoming a serious concern posing a bleak future for the students.  

Build at a cost of ₹ 27.40 crores and spread over an area of 819 kanal, the satellite campus is becoming more like an asset to proclaim with no positive result.  

Interestingly, no leaders from the Leh region visited the campus till date to take stock of the campus functioning and reach out to the students.

Leaders visited last time during the inauguration of the campus by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti in August 2017.

Over the years and at every platform, leaders have left no stone unturned to talk about the strengthening of education but is it happening practically is a big question to ponder.

A letter was also received by the students of the satellite campus which reads as, “We are the students of MA/MSc Programmes at Kashmir University, Leh, Satellite Campus. We are here in such conditions that we can't describe our position with words. After several requests made to KU officials, from last year till now, not even a single step was taken to make a way out for us”.

“Till April 10, 2018, University is still short of teaching and non-teaching staff, short of water, and still, no examination was held till date. Our fellow batch of 2017 at the University of Kashmir, Geography department main campus has almost completed the second semester and we are here struggling with the first-semester examination”, the letter further reads.

At present, the campus is managed by the Registrar of the Kashmir University and has 3 faculty member and 2 running courses out of the 4 announced courses which include tourism and geography. Two students were enrolled in the geology earlier but have been shifted to the main campus in mid-session.

The campus demands and in need of permanent rector and staffs for smooth functioning. And most importantly, the need of introducing courses in respect of Govt. Degree College so that the students can have a choice to pursue their master degree in Leh.

Today, maximum students from Ladakh are pursuing higher education staying in different cities of the country.  Not only huge sum of money is paid for academic and accommodation, but are also facing several issues in terms of safety and security.

Tsering Sandup, EC Education said, “There is an issue of the limited choice of courses and also the courses offered in the campus at present have no relevance to the students pursuing a bachelor degree in EJM".

“We have taken up the issue of the satellite campus recently and are hoping for some positive response”, he added.

Talking about the higher education scenario in Leh, Deskyong Namgyal, Principal, EJM College said, “The overall scenario of the higher education system needs improvement and there is much-needed intervention from the stakeholders to make the existing institution run efficiently and effectively.”

The higher education system in Ladakh needs improvement at all levels. Students in Government Degree colleges are also facing major issues such as delayed semester examination and lack of adequate funding. 

Knowing and witnessing serious academic issues faced by around 4,000 students pursuing higher education in Ladakh along with many other problems there is still a demand for introducing new colleges.

Shouldn’t we put our effort to improve the existing institution and bring up to the quality level?