The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Polytechnic seats to increase

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Monday, Feb 25, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Polytechnic seats to increase

Swathi.V

Proposal by Department of Technical Education gets government’s nod

Within 22 years polytechnic colleges grew from 65 to 149 in State
Public sector units are being encouraged to set up new colleges

HYDERABAD: The tier-II technical education scenario is in for a considerable revamp with seats in polytechnic colleges set to increase by over 50 per cent for the next academic year.

A proposal by the Department of Technical Education in this direction has received approval from the Government and the exact volume of seat enhancement will become clear once the State level committee evaluates the situation, disclosed the Commissioner of Technical Education, L.Premachandra Reddy.

Pointing out that the ratio of polytechnic diploma holders to the engineering graduates was very low in the State as well as at the National level, he said, the consolidated annual intake of engineering students at the State level stood at 1.2 lakh while that of the diploma students, at 23,000, resulting in a ratio of 5:1. Ideally, the ratio should be 1:3 to suit the industry requirements, said Mr. Reddy.

While engineering colleges’ number rose from 26 to 296 within a span of 22 years, polytechnic colleges during the same period grew from 65 to 149 and among them only 102 offer engineering streams. “Many diploma holders are opting for lateral entrance into engineering since 12,000 seats are reserved for them. As a result, the actual inflow of diploma holders into the market is less,” he said.

Of the 8,513 diploma holders who passed out in 2007, about 5,613 joined the regular engineering colleges even while 6,052 more seats were left unfilled. The modalities being worked out to increase the number of polytechnic seats are many and varied.

Introducing a second shift in the polytechnics, starting a shift for polytechnic classes in engineering colleges and encouraging public sector units to set up new colleges are among the proposals being considered. “We have already received consent from the Singareni Collieries and talks are on with BHEL and ECIL as well,” he said.

Capacity expansion in the existing colleges with Public-Private-Partnership and negotiating with AICTE for more liberal norms in the setting up of private polytechnic colleges are some more steps. So far, 37 applications were received seeking approval for private polytechnics and only six will go to the state level committee for consideration.

“Private sector participation may be encouraged by approving additional intake of students and earmarking a portion as the management quota,” he said. Enhancement of the self-finance component in aided institutions is also being considered.

A new government polytechnic college is coming up at Obulavaripalli in Kadapa and a proposal has been sent to Central Government for sanction of another at Eluru. A women’s polytechnic in each district and special polytechnics for the disabled in association with TTD and Prashanti Nilayam are in the pipeline.

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