AICTE is on watch for errant engineering colleges in Punjab

The All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) has tightened their belts to keep a watch on the delinquent engineering colleges in Punjab and in the periphery of Chandigarh. The apex body governs hundreds of technical and management institutes in the country and now it is planning to cancel the affiliation of all those colleges who are below- standard and will also impose various restrictions on them.

S S Mantha, chairman of AICTE stated that the field of technical education is very wide and has a wide scope and we always encourage colleges that have the potential to deliver. At the same time, we are also cautious about the meandering of low standard colleges in the region.

He added that we conduct surprise raids in colleges on regular basis and taking immediate actions on complaints. Colleges found below-standard will be closed down soon and the number of sanctioned seats will also be reduced. He also said that AICTE is worried about vacant seats in various engineering colleges in Punjab and other states.

While analyzing the situation, it has been found that 15% to 20% seats are vacant in colleges in rural areas and that too in certain branches like information technology and production. It has been observed that students are drifting away from information technology and have started opting for core branches.

Number of colleges wants to shut their IT branches and want allocation of more seats in other streams. In order to promote research culture and enhance interaction between industry and academicians; AICTE will select 50 colleges across the country. Such colleges will be selected by early 2012.

Source: Richha Bhatnagar (Shiksha Team)