Minister for Higher &Technical Education, Temjen Imna Along speaking at the 4th Regional Workshop on Technical Education for North Eastern States at Hotel Vivor Kohima on April 9. (DIPR Photo)
Chizokho Vero
Kohima | April 9
The three-day long 4th regional workshop on technical education for Directors and Principals of North-East States concluded here this evening at Hotel Vivor under the theme ‘Challenges in achieving excellence through accreditation in polytechnics of North Eastern states.’
Addressing the closing function, Minister for Higher & Technical Education, Temjen Imna Along assured that the state government would extend political will to push forward technical education in the state.
He also made suggestions to include the Ministers in charge of Technical Education of the NE states as special invitees in the forthcoming workshops.
He viewed that the effort of the faculty and product of the polytechnic institutions will go a long way in boosting the country’s economy.
Reading out the nine point recommendations worked out in the workshop, Prof. Phalguni Gupta, Director, National Institute of Technical Teachers’ Training and Research (NITTTR), Kolkata said that Principals of all NE states have accepted that accreditation by the National Board of Accreditation (NBA) is highly required for quality assurance of polytechnic education.
On feasibility study for establishment of new polytechnics and for introducing new programmes in existing polytechnics, it was pointed out by many states that such feasibility study is required.
Principals of some polytechnics meanwhile requested that skill based training programmes for faculty members and technical staff be provided. Some also recommended that the North Eastern Quality Improvement Program (NEQIP) should be continued and expanded for at least two more years. It was also suggested that at least one executive meeting with the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) be conducted for only polytechnics of North Eastern states.
Due to insufficient infrastructure in polytechnics, participants of the workshop observed that students are not getting proper exposure in skill based training. It was suggested that internship programmes be arranged at nearby NITs.
It was also pointed out that as there is a shortage of faculty in many polytechnics, regular academic activities are being affected. Based on the success story of Bihar, the workshop felt that similar process for recruiting long term contractual faculty may be proposed through MHRD till regular recruitment process is done.
With regard to course development, principals of many polytechnics called for course files and laboratory manual development for various diploma programmes.
The AICTE has recommended various SHWYAM MOOC based courses for faculty development. However, it was observed that poor internet connectivity has significantly affected access to online courses. To enable the institutes to adapt training through ICT mode, the workshop suggested that NITTTR Kolkata submit a project proposal to the MHRD for providing internet connectivity through satellite communication to all polytechnics of North East states.
Several states also pointed that the employability of diploma pass-out students is a major issue due to existence of limited industries in the North East. As suggested by the Joint Secretary of Higher Education, MHRD, Government of India, principals of respective polytechnics should contact with BOPT/BOAT for apprenticeship programme of diploma pass-out students so as to provide industry exposure, they suggested.
The workshop was hosted by the Nagaland State Department of Technical Education and sponsored by the National Institute of Technical Teachers’ Training and Research (NITTTR), Kolkata.
