90% posts for instructors lie vacant at GTU
VC sets up panel for selection process; directs affiliated diploma and degree engineering colleges to hire Class III employees to fill vacancies in 6 months
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Friday, March 04, 2011 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20Latest§id=2&contentid=2011030420110304031028592d2bc0489)
They are perfect in theory but when it comes to practicals, students of diploma and degree engineering colleges in the state flounder badly. This should come as no surprise as more than 90 per cent posts for instructors and lab assistants in these colleges lie empty. Taking note of this, Gujarat Technological University has directed its affiliated colleges to hire Class III employees to fill up the vacancies within six months.
“All-India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) only checks whether the facilities are up-to-date, not whether there are enough people to impart knowledge to students. Due to this, colleges do not bother hiring staff as it will keep their cost down. When we visited our colleges, we realised posts of instructors in more than 90 per cent colleges were vacant. This, when practicals are an important part of the curriculum,” said GTU Vice-Chancellor Akshai Aggrawal.
To push for quality education, the university has formed a three-member committee to set up rules for the selection process. These regulations will be put up on its website by next week.
“Teachers can handle theory but instructors teach students how to use machines and prove themselves through practice. When people from the industry come to hire students, they find our pupils lacking in practical knowledge. Students across the country suffer from this problem. Therefore, we have fixed a meeting with the AICTE chairman on Friday to talk about this issue,” he said.
Principal of a government degree engineering college, on conditions of anonymity, agreed that there is shortage of teachers as well as instructors. “Certain branches of engineering like mechanical engineering are more practical than theoretical. Since 1988, the government has banned appointment of lab assistants and instructors (Class III category). As per rules, the government releases grant to build and upgrade laboratories. The colleges utilise the funds by buying the latest machinery but there is no one to teach the students how to operate it,” said the principal, adding: “Recently CNC machines worth Rs 30 lakh were installed in government engineering colleges. Till date, students have no idea how to even turn on the machine.”
Meanwhile, GTU has also asked colleges to prepare study material for students so that students in MBA, MCA, engineering and pharmacy courses can concentrate on projects and practical sessions.
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Friday, March 04, 2011 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20Latest§id=2&contentid=2011030420110304031028592d2bc0489)
They are perfect in theory but when it comes to practicals, students of diploma and degree engineering colleges in the state flounder badly. This should come as no surprise as more than 90 per cent posts for instructors and lab assistants in these colleges lie empty. Taking note of this, Gujarat Technological University has directed its affiliated colleges to hire Class III employees to fill up the vacancies within six months.
“All-India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) only checks whether the facilities are up-to-date, not whether there are enough people to impart knowledge to students. Due to this, colleges do not bother hiring staff as it will keep their cost down. When we visited our colleges, we realised posts of instructors in more than 90 per cent colleges were vacant. This, when practicals are an important part of the curriculum,” said GTU Vice-Chancellor Akshai Aggrawal.
To push for quality education, the university has formed a three-member committee to set up rules for the selection process. These regulations will be put up on its website by next week.
“Teachers can handle theory but instructors teach students how to use machines and prove themselves through practice. When people from the industry come to hire students, they find our pupils lacking in practical knowledge. Students across the country suffer from this problem. Therefore, we have fixed a meeting with the AICTE chairman on Friday to talk about this issue,” he said.
Principal of a government degree engineering college, on conditions of anonymity, agreed that there is shortage of teachers as well as instructors. “Certain branches of engineering like mechanical engineering are more practical than theoretical. Since 1988, the government has banned appointment of lab assistants and instructors (Class III category). As per rules, the government releases grant to build and upgrade laboratories. The colleges utilise the funds by buying the latest machinery but there is no one to teach the students how to operate it,” said the principal, adding: “Recently CNC machines worth Rs 30 lakh were installed in government engineering colleges. Till date, students have no idea how to even turn on the machine.”
Meanwhile, GTU has also asked colleges to prepare study material for students so that students in MBA, MCA, engineering and pharmacy courses can concentrate on projects and practical sessions.
