"We cannot afford to look the other way when it comes to finding the right kind of jobs for our youth. Universities are now required to get involved in not only imparting quality education but ensuring that education pays students dividends in the form of highly-remunerative jobs," he said.
The chief minister also asked the institutes of higher learning to foster an environment that prepares human resource better for bigger challenges ahead.
Favouring greater financial autonomy to the universities, Mufti said the education system has experienced important changes in recent past that have brought about a tactical shift in how the universities function.
He said the restructuring of the higher education system will help transform our cluster of colleges into full-fledged universities.
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"There is no dearth of funds to promote education, but getting the desired results will require the universities to 'travel that extra mile' which will make a huge difference in shaping our youth's future in terms of securing jobs," he said.
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"With the kind of boom our health and education
sectors are going to receive in future, we need skilled human resource to augment our infrastructure," the Chief Minister said while referring to two new AIIMS and five new medical colleges that are going to be set up which necessitates establishment of paramedic and nursing institutes in the state.
He praised well-known cricketer Pervez Rasool for launching a cricket academy at Bijbehara which will inspire many youth to take up sports as a professional career.
"With this objective in mind, we have made DCs the chairmen of the District Sports Councils so that they promote sporting activities in a coordinated manner," he said.