Pune : The intake for polytechnic courses in Maharashtra has been reduced by over 5,000 seats after a recent government notification issuing a closure notice to several colleges.
This resolution has had its effect on 85 colleges across the state of which 12 are from Pune district. Of the 85 colleges, 38 have been made to close the entire department with zero intake approved for the academic year 2018-19. These colleges offered diploma courses in engineering in varied branches.
Officer at the Maharashtra State Higher and Technical Education Department, Anil Katkar, said, “ We received an application for the closure from many colleges as they were unable to run the courses without enough number of seats. Over the years, such colleges were facing losses.”
A total of 5,092 seats have been reduced in the upcoming academic year for the polytechnic colleges in Maharashtra as per the notification. According to education activist Nihal Kirnalli, who analysed the data of closed polytechnic colleges and its branches, there were many factors that need to be looked into while considering this decision from the government and All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE).
“The main reason behind this decision is the increasing number of vacant seats every year. The factor that is resulting in colleges not filling 100% of their intake is the syllabus that is set by the Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education (MSBTE) for the diploma courses. According to a recent media report, the MSBTE authorities admitted that on an average 50 per cent seats have remained vacant in the academic year 2017-18,” said Kirnalli.
Citing his own example, Kirnalli said, he had completed his diploma in electronics and telecommunication in 2014 and the syllabus he was taught was based on the technology used in 1990. After so many years, the content of the syllabus has remained unchanged.
“MSBTE simply changes the syllabus name and not the content. For instance, a new G-Scheme syllabus was introduced in the academic year 2014-15 but the content was same as that of at least 10 years before that which in turn was based on 1990 technology. Secondly, the practical experiments in colleges are hardly conducted. Most colleges don’t even have the appropriate apparatus to conduct practical. Hence, the practical knowledge of a diploma holder is as good as zero,” he said.
Industries and employers are constantly looking for candidates with up-to-date knowledge along with decent practical understanding. If this sector needs to be saved, the government and the board must act fast. According to Kirnalli, the MSBTE also should set up more updated systems to get a particular college registered. Establishing mere counselling centres dedicated to colleges to help get maximum intake is not going to help. A decision on making the courses more contemporary and saleable in the market should be taken, Katkar added.
Note: News shared for public awareness with reference from the information provided at online news portals.
