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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