COIMBATORE: Tamil Nadu will get five more engineering colleges, even as several in the state are looking at closing down. While some question the rationale of allowing new institutions when many seats remain vacant, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) officials continues to defend this policy.
On one hand when seven new institutions have been approved, Three institutions have been allowed to close in the state.
Many engineering colleges in the state are facing losses and are looking for buyers. According to private college owners, many are unable to find buyers and are forced to seek permission to shut shop.
Around 80,000 of the 2.05lakh seats in the state were vacant during 2013-14 in engineering colleges under Anna University, Chennai. As per former human resource development minister Pallam Raju's answer to a question in the Lok Sabha during the monsoon session in 2013, the number vacant seats in technical institutions approved by All-India Council for Technical Education across the country had risen from 1,91,086 in 2012-13 to 3,10,741 seats in 2013-14.
"Opening an engineering college is a suicidal move, except for premier groups," said T D Eswaramoorthy, joint secretary of Engineering Colleges in Coimbatore and chairman of Easa College of Engineering and Technology. Many start new institutions with the perception that it is a business that will give them visibility, but they lack the clarity required to create and sustain the credibility of the institution.
Many academics feel the policy of approving new institutions should be stalled. E Balagurusamy, former Anna University vice-chancellor, said AICTE had taken several steps in recent years to improve the quality of technical education. "When colleges are being closed down, there is no need for new institutions. I do not agree with this policy of AICTE of 'survival of the fittest'." There is huge unemployment, and even among those employed, many are underemployed.
Some say students and parents should be cautious about joining institutions without a solid reputation. Baldev Raj, chairman, board of governors, Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar, said students should enquire about the institution they plan to join. "Students who want to pursue engineering, should make sure the institution they join can deliver quality education," he said.
On one hand when seven new institutions have been approved, Three institutions have been allowed to close in the state.
Many engineering colleges in the state are facing losses and are looking for buyers. According to private college owners, many are unable to find buyers and are forced to seek permission to shut shop.
Around 80,000 of the 2.05lakh seats in the state were vacant during 2013-14 in engineering colleges under Anna University, Chennai. As per former human resource development minister Pallam Raju's answer to a question in the Lok Sabha during the monsoon session in 2013, the number vacant seats in technical institutions approved by All-India Council for Technical Education across the country had risen from 1,91,086 in 2012-13 to 3,10,741 seats in 2013-14.
"Opening an engineering college is a suicidal move, except for premier groups," said T D Eswaramoorthy, joint secretary of Engineering Colleges in Coimbatore and chairman of Easa College of Engineering and Technology. Many start new institutions with the perception that it is a business that will give them visibility, but they lack the clarity required to create and sustain the credibility of the institution.
Many academics feel the policy of approving new institutions should be stalled. E Balagurusamy, former Anna University vice-chancellor, said AICTE had taken several steps in recent years to improve the quality of technical education. "When colleges are being closed down, there is no need for new institutions. I do not agree with this policy of AICTE of 'survival of the fittest'." There is huge unemployment, and even among those employed, many are underemployed.
Some say students and parents should be cautious about joining institutions without a solid reputation. Baldev Raj, chairman, board of governors, Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar, said students should enquire about the institution they plan to join. "Students who want to pursue engineering, should make sure the institution they join can deliver quality education," he said.
No comments:
Post a Comment