The Higher Education Department of Jammu and Kashmir has recorded an 18% increase in first-year college admissions this year, despite challenges in making newly established degree colleges fully operational, Education Minister Sakina Itoo said in the Legislative Assembly.

Itoo said several new colleges were facing difficulties over the availability of land for permanent campuses. In cases where local residents disagreed over proposed sites, construction could not proceed until the disputes were resolved. She urged concerned legislators to help settle such issues, adding that funds for permanent buildings would be provided once the land-related matters were cleared.

The minister also highlighted low enrollment in some newly established colleges, with students continuing to favour established institutions. She said the government was introducing employment-oriented courses rather than simply expanding conventional subjects.

Courses in areas including tourism, music and horticulture are being introduced based on local demand and emerging employment opportunities. However, Itoo said new courses would be expanded in proportion to student interest to ensure available faculty and resources are effectively utilised.

The government’s focus, she said, is not only to increase the number of colleges but also to improve the relevance of higher education by offering courses that can help students develop skills and improve their employment prospects.