7/28/2019 15aprail Pg 1
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he State
We APRIL 15 TO APRIL 21, 2013
Vol-01. Issue-29. Bhopal. Monday Page-12. Price-`5/-
Rahi Sarnobat, who became
India's first ever pistol shooter
to win a World Cup gold
Rahi Sarnobat, who became
India's first ever pistol shooter
to win a World Cup gold
We're friends for life,says Deepika of Ranbir
www.wethestate.com
TTeecchhnniiccaall ccoolllleeggeessin MP face closureBHOPAL
LLike in most parts of the country,
technical education institutes in
Madhya Pradesh are facing tough
times with some colleges being forced to
apply for closure as large numbers of
their seats have remained vacant during
last few years.
This year, sources say, about 10 colleges
of masters of computer application
(MCA) course, nine masters of business
administration (MBA) colleges, five phar-
macy colleges have applied for closure.
Also, 15 engineering colleges have ap-
plied for closure of their information
technology (IT) branches.
Sources add that during last three
years, about 50% of the 80-odd MCA col-
leges have applied for closure, though
their applications might not have been
approved yet due to various technical rea-
sons.
During last few years, more than half of
the MCA seats have remained vacant in
the state. Statistics show the number of
MCA seats open for admissions actually
reduced during last three years, mainly
because colleges were not interested to
put them up for admissions and surren-
der them instead.
Experts say that a sharp increase in
number of seats in technical courses dur-
ing last few years and reducing inclina-
tion of students towards courses like
MCA and engineering branch-
es like IT has led to a situa-
tion where colleges, espe-
cially those that
opened during last
few years, are forced
to consider closure.
Also, the world-
wide economic slow-
down, which has also
affected India and re-
duced employment op-portunities in specific
sectors, is being looked upon
as one of the contributors to the
overall hit on technical education all
across the country, including Madhya
Pradesh.
During the last three years, the number
of engineering seats in the state in-
creased by about 27,000 while number of
MBA seats increased by over 7,000. This
year, about 26,500 engineering seats and
2,700 MBA seats remained vacant.
Though the number of MCA seats actual-
ly reduced by about 1,000, the number of
vacancies remained over 50%.
Experts however also feel that situation
is actually not as bad in MP compared to
other states in the country. Overall, about
138 technical colleges, including engi-
neering, MCA and MBA colleges, have ap-
plied for closure in different states. Be-
tween 2010 and 2012, at least 275 more col-
leges applied for closure, sources say.
Piyush Trivedi, vice-chancellor of Rajiv
Gandhi Proudyogiki Vishwavidyalaya
(RGPV) - the technical university of the
state - concedes that some technical
courses and engineering branches are
facing problems in the state, but adds
that it is a countrywide phe-
nomenon. He mainly
blames the scenario on
the rapid increase in
number of seats in
technical courses
during last decade,
especially last five
years.
Trivedi says that
certain colleges - like
MCA institutes - mighthave applied for closure
of the course, but might
have opted for integrated five-
year BCA-MCA, which is more popular
among students. Also, some colleges
might have merged MCA, MBA courses
with engineering colleges as additional
departments.
"However, we have to find a way to stop
the indiscriminate increase in number of
seats in the technical colleges. The need
is to focus on quality rather than quanti-
ty. Because if the number of seats in es-
tablished/old colleges goes on increas-
ing, the new colleges would continue to
have problems," the vice-chancellor said.
This year too seats in technical courses,
especially in engineering and MBA are
set to rise at least 10%, he added. Anoth-
er expert is of the view that the cost of es-
tablishment of colleges has increased
heavily during last few years and if these
colleges do not get enough number of stu-
dents, then they fail to realize the rev-
enue invested and even fail to pay bank
loans. Property of a technical college in
Ujjain was attached by a bank recently
due to failure to pay loans. This forces
some colleges to seek closure.
Spokesman of the Association of Tech-
nical Professional Institutes (ATPI) of
MP says that the technical education sec-
tor is facing tough internal competition
and impact of worldwide economic slow-
down has aggravated the situation. The
inclination of students has also reduced
in some specific courses, bringing some
colleges to the verge of closure.
The regional officer of All India Coun-
cil of Technical Education (AICTE),
Ashok Kumar Patel could not be contact-ed for comments.
How WE look it !
...Cartoon by K G OJHA