CHENNAI: Singapore's Education Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam was here looking to build linkages with Tamil Nadu in particular and India as a whole, in the realm of education. His agenda was clear and visits to schools and institutions were tailored to meet that objective.

But, at the end of his tour, educationists who met him were left wondering if Tamil Nadu should not identify areas of cooperation where the City State could help. The overwhelming view was that Singapore's approach to tertiary education, particularly its industry or market-oriented polytechnics, could be a model.

Both academics and administrators who met the Minister said Singapore, given its strengths and limitations, had drawn up its priorities and categorised the education system to meet the differing needs of students and families.

Since it was impossible to admit all students passing out of school to the limited number of universities, it had worked on a pattern of tertiary education and built institutes and polytechnics specifically designed to meet market needs. Mr. Shanmugaratnam said by and large, the market was able to absorb those passing out of these institutions.

Tamil Nadu should

take lead

Those who met him felt that at a time when the Centre had announced a scheme to revamp and strengthen some polytechnics, Tamil Nadu could take the lead in doing it the right way. Instead of "blindly offering outdated courses which the market does not want," an exercise must be undertaken to identify trades in demand so that courses can be structured to suit those needs. Only then will students passing out of polytechnics be "employable."

Changes not enough

Education administrators say changes have been introduced in the polytechnics, but certainly not to the desired extent.

"The craze in our State, as also in our neighbouring ones, is to go for the engineering or medicine. If not, students opt for Commerce. Admissions to Arts and Science courses is on the wane. We must consciously sharpen the focus on vocational and tertiary education, introduce courses in demand and provide practical training that will equip them to get immediately absorbed by industry or trade," says an Education official.

He explains that it is the lower income groups and those who cannot afford collegiate education who seek admission to polytechnics. With the mushrooming of engineering colleges, demand for seats in polytechnics plummeted in recent years.

Fee structure

Though some self-financing institutes were doing well, their fee structure was on the higher side, especially when they were well equipped and offered relevant courses.

There has to be a Government effort to restructure State-run polytechnics or seek the partnership of industry to revamp existing institutes to make them popular, affordable and market-oriented.

Given Singapore's success in this area, it may be useful to seek its partnership in reorienting tertiary education here.

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