180 New Technical institutes seeks AICTE approval

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), New Delhi has got 180 applications for seeking approval for opening new undergraduate technical institutions across the country. In the academic year 2012-13 most of the engineering colleges seats were left vacant across the country, but opening of the new technical institutions seems to be no end for applications for permission.

In Tamil Nadu, around 1 lakh seats left vacant for the academic year 2012-13 in which it also consists of 50,000 government seats and even in Andhra Pradesh also more than 1 lakh engineering seats were left vacant. From TN, AICTE received 30 applications for new engineering colleges. At the same time, 40 professional colleges have applied for closure.

This year, AICTE has given time to send new applications till Feb 20 with late fee. It has already received 180 applications from across the country, 30 of which from TN. If AICTE approved the applications, it could mean that addition of 30,000 new seats to a sector that by 60 seats every year if they have the required infrastructure and faculty.

AICTE Chairman SS Mantha said, "They must provide quality else they will be finished,"

Meanwhile, 40 existing undergraduate institutions have applied for closure. In TN at least one institution has asked to be allowed to close down.

The TN state have around 525 engineering colleges. Last year 1.69 lakh candidates applied for engineering courses over for 1.72 lakh seats through single window counseling system. The absentee rate was 20% an done lakh engineering seats, including 55,000 government seats were empty.

Some newer branches in 48 engineering courses hot less than 10 takers, and some colleges admitted just 100 students. Engineering colleges that fail to get students are caught in various cycle. Management starts colleges with minimum facilities thinking they will invest I labs and faculty once they get students. Often, the only students studying in the state for whom the tuition fee paid by the state govt.

Lack of students hits faculty too. One of the Principal from the TN state, quits as principal from a new college a month after the academic year began. "When the college found out that it was not going to get students, they gave me only 50% of the salary promised," he said.

Even, managements hire fewer staff. Some faculty members are asked to handle more lessons or stay back to check hostels. Sources said new graduate are recruited as staff for the salary of Rs 4,000/- per month.

"With well-run institutions like BITS Pilani or VIT University opening campuses across the country, Well graduated professors appointed and infrastructure and labs facility are good to reach the top," said one of the IIT recruiter.