Govt’s bid to add engg seats suffers setback
AICTE’s latest norms have scuttled govt’s plan to open colleges for professional courses under PPP model
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Thursday, January 06, 2011 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20City§id=3&contentid=20110106201101060318381139508c13f)
The state government’s efforts to increase seats in professional courses by collaborating with the private sector have suffered a major setback, with the All India Council For Technical Education issuing new norms for setting up of colleges.
The statutory body has stated that colleges under public-private partnership model (PPP) can come up only in those districts where there are no institutes of professional courses. It has identified 241 districts across the country where such colleges can come up. From Gujarat, only Banaskatha and Dang have made it to the list.
This effectively scuttles the government’s plan to add thousands of seats in courses such as engineering and pharmacy by starting colleges under the PPP structure.
When Mirror contacted a senior technical education official, he said that the government would study AICTE rules properly before revamping its plan. “Right now, we are busy with the vibrant summit. Once its over, we will study the new norms and see what can be done,” he said.
Govt’s Plans for new colleges in a limbo
In March 2010, the education department had said that it would rope in private and state-run companies to start 12 degree and six diploma engineering colleges in Amreli, Bhavnagar, Valsad, Navsari, Vadnagar and other places. It even finalised a list of firms, which included Reliance Industries Ltd, Chennai-based Hebron, GSPC and GMDC.
For smooth implemention of the public-private structure, the government announced that it would provide land for setting up colleges on a 30-year lease at a token cost of Re 1. It also said that Rs 10 crore would be given for construction of a campus. Later last year, it inked MoUs with selected firms.
AICTE’s latest norms, however, have delivered a blow to government’s efforts. Some officials claim by issuing rules for setting up of degree and diploma colleges, the council has robbed the state administration of the power to approve proposals for new institutes.
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Thursday, January 06, 2011 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20City§id=3&contentid=20110106201101060318381139508c13f)
The state government’s efforts to increase seats in professional courses by collaborating with the private sector have suffered a major setback, with the All India Council For Technical Education issuing new norms for setting up of colleges.
The statutory body has stated that colleges under public-private partnership model (PPP) can come up only in those districts where there are no institutes of professional courses. It has identified 241 districts across the country where such colleges can come up. From Gujarat, only Banaskatha and Dang have made it to the list.
This effectively scuttles the government’s plan to add thousands of seats in courses such as engineering and pharmacy by starting colleges under the PPP structure.
When Mirror contacted a senior technical education official, he said that the government would study AICTE rules properly before revamping its plan. “Right now, we are busy with the vibrant summit. Once its over, we will study the new norms and see what can be done,” he said.
Govt’s Plans for new colleges in a limbo
In March 2010, the education department had said that it would rope in private and state-run companies to start 12 degree and six diploma engineering colleges in Amreli, Bhavnagar, Valsad, Navsari, Vadnagar and other places. It even finalised a list of firms, which included Reliance Industries Ltd, Chennai-based Hebron, GSPC and GMDC.
For smooth implemention of the public-private structure, the government announced that it would provide land for setting up colleges on a 30-year lease at a token cost of Re 1. It also said that Rs 10 crore would be given for construction of a campus. Later last year, it inked MoUs with selected firms.
AICTE’s latest norms, however, have delivered a blow to government’s efforts. Some officials claim by issuing rules for setting up of degree and diploma colleges, the council has robbed the state administration of the power to approve proposals for new institutes.
