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AICTE evolving national plan

By Our Staff Reporter

Coimbatore July 17. The All-India Council for Technical Education will evolve a "national perspective plan" in two to three months.

Talking to reporters here yesterday, its Chairman, R. Natarajan, said the AICTE, in consultation with the States and Centre, would conduct a trend analysis and work towards capacity creation in various faculties and utilisation, before evolving the plan.

To a query on approval for more private colleges and the displeasure expressed by State Governments, he said the AICTE was legally bound to give approval if the applicant satisfied its conditions. It was the responsibility of the States to decide on the intake and the number of institutions to be allowed every year.

As the States were partners in higher education, the AICTE ensured consonance and that "there is no confrontation''. There was regular interaction by the AICTE with the States. The Secretaries met annually to sort out issues.

On regional imbalance in technical education, Dr. Natarajan said the AICTE was approaching the issue "practically''. In some cases, States had to cater for the employment market in other States as well, besides meeting overseas demand. On concentration of colleges in particular regions, he said "in a democracy everything cannot be dictated by legislation.''

Following the slump in demand for IT-related courses, thanks to a slowdown in the IT Industry, the institutions were allowed to apportion unfilled seats to other faculties after obtaining AICTE approval to prevent misuse by certain institutions''.

Technology education mission

Speaking at the valedictory function of the PSG College of Technology Golden jubilee celebrations, Dr. Natarajan said the Centre had already put in place a National Mission for Technology Education.

It would lay down the policy for the highest quality of technical and management education.

The NMTE would plan for expansion of technical manpower in new and emerging areas keeping in mind the requirements of the growing economy.

The Governor, P.S. Ramamohan Rao, exhorted academic institutions to focus on research and invest in intellectual capital to transform India into a developed country. He lamented that the country had satisfied itself with being a developing nation for the last 50 years. By promoting higher technical education, India should occupy the frontline of G8 group within a decade.

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