Education dept is high on plans, low on execution
Announces partial autonomy to seven engg colleges in phase 2, despite implementing it in just one of the six colleges named in phase 1
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Wednesday, September 04, 2013
(http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/3/20130904201309040253145935c317560/Education-dept-is-high-on-plans-low-on-execution.html
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Wednesday, September 04, 2013
(http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/3/20130904201309040253145935c317560/Education-dept-is-high-on-plans-low-on-execution.html
An optimistic state education department has announced that it will implement the Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme (TEQIP) in seven new colleges under phase 2 of its plan, despite the dismal performance in phase 1. Of the six institutes in phase 1, TEQIP — aimed at giving engineering institutes a higher level of autonomy — has been implemented in just one. In phase 2, TEQIP is expected to be implemented in Shantilal Shah Engineering College, and Government Engineering College in Bhavnagar; Government Engineering College in Gandhinagar; Government Engineering College in Patan; Government Engineering College in Rajkot; Lukhdhirji Engineering College in Morbi and BVM Engineering College in Vallabh Vidhyanagar, said Vinay Purani, joint director, technical education department.
Once TEQIP is in place, Gujarat Technological University will only be responsible for conducting exams and issuing certificates, with all the other responsibilities being handled by authorities in the respective colleges. “The programme gives de-facto autonomy to institutes, and allows them to take important decisions such as faculty recruitment without bureaucratic red-tapism. TEQIP is believed to increase overall efficiency of colleges by granting them more autonomy,” an official explained. Of the six institutes named in phase 1, TEQIP was only implemented in Ahmedabad’s L D College of Engineering, with marginal success.
“TEQIP has not been implemented properly at L D . We are yet to get the required board of governance. So, we cannot claim this status under the UGC. If implemented appropriately, the resulting autonomy would benefit students at large. Some private institutes are doing exceedingly well, and we need measures such as TEQIP to compete with them,” said M N Patel, Principal, L D College of Engineering. “There are very few autonomous colleges in state, in sharp contrast to the situation in South Indian states like Karnataka. This was bringing down our state,” Purani added. The Central government envisaged TEQIP as a long-term move to transform the technical education system, to be implemented over a period of 10–12 years, at a cost of Rs 1,550 crore, 80 per cent of which would come from the World Bank.
Once TEQIP is in place, Gujarat Technological University will only be responsible for conducting exams and issuing certificates, with all the other responsibilities being handled by authorities in the respective colleges. “The programme gives de-facto autonomy to institutes, and allows them to take important decisions such as faculty recruitment without bureaucratic red-tapism. TEQIP is believed to increase overall efficiency of colleges by granting them more autonomy,” an official explained. Of the six institutes named in phase 1, TEQIP was only implemented in Ahmedabad’s L D College of Engineering, with marginal success.
“TEQIP has not been implemented properly at L D . We are yet to get the required board of governance. So, we cannot claim this status under the UGC. If implemented appropriately, the resulting autonomy would benefit students at large. Some private institutes are doing exceedingly well, and we need measures such as TEQIP to compete with them,” said M N Patel, Principal, L D College of Engineering. “There are very few autonomous colleges in state, in sharp contrast to the situation in South Indian states like Karnataka. This was bringing down our state,” Purani added. The Central government envisaged TEQIP as a long-term move to transform the technical education system, to be implemented over a period of 10–12 years, at a cost of Rs 1,550 crore, 80 per cent of which would come from the World Bank.
