There is now no sector untouched by development – in fact, each day some or the other field gets covered. Moving with the times, the important question is how prompt have we been to take the relevant steps. Our thinking has been centred on these lives as far as technical education in the state is concerned. Its importance and usefulness has been realised in Madhya Pradesh and we have felt that solid and integrated steps ought to be taken for formulating a well-thought out development plan. Our last four years? work has been instrumental in coming to such a position to move ahead. We will soon draft the policy to present to the people.
The rate of development would not ever stop if we have firm willpower, constructive approach and people'swelfare in our mind. Four years ago the state government started work in this field keeping these paradigms in mind. In the field of technical education our efforts have resulted in the fact that compared to year 2001, in 2006 the number of engineering colleges has registered an increase of 152 per cent. Comparatively speaking, during the same period the admission capacity of these colleges has gone up by 174 per cent. It is natural that in this context an encouraging scenario has developed.
When there is a target in life – its achievement works out in an impressive way. The state'svibrant policies have resulted during the last four years in ensuring rapidly more admission capacity in different prevalent courses in the technical institutions. It would be appropriate to say that in this span along with five engineering colleges (private sector), 19 MBA and 12 MCA institution and are pharmacy degree college were established. Owing to development every year, the total admission capacity to technical and vocational courses of 53,321 in 2006, increased to 56,441 in year 2007.
Our effort was also to see to it that students belonging to OBC and SC & ST category also enthusiastically came forward for technical education. For this it was necessary for us creating proper and conducive environment for them to do so. With this in mind, the state government started the project of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Polytechnics. During 2006-07, for this category, we reserved seats in the existing four polytechnic colleges and made the institution fully vocational. For OBC students we made necessary arrangement for boys at Morena and for girl pupils in Sehore. Likewise under this project arrangements were made for SC and ST girls at Mandla and for boys at Jhabua.
At Aral for OBC, SC and ST children a policy was drafted for expansion of technical education – we also realised the state will have to work for positive results. With this in view, we also decided that employment avenues be created for those passing out of the engineering colleges and polytechnics.
During the year 2004, we also started free and short-term training courses. In the course of this ever-increasing training programme, last year we gave training to some 80 students at the Indo-German Tool Room in Indore. Our trust is very clear that these students after technical training will be able to lead a life of dignity with self-confidence.
Technical education is a field on which the future depends. With World Bank assistance, seven institutions including five engineering colleges got development works started. We established campus wired networking in these set-ups. These seven institutions also got leg wage lab and smart class systems installed.
The state government has already sent instructions for instituting Best Teacher Awards to each of these seven institutions. The award will comprise an amount of Rs.10,000 each and citation.
For making the World Bank institutions more effective, work on library automation has begun. Declaring these seven institutions ISO certified is in the final stage. Arrangements have been made for holding seminary of international level in three, and at four at the national level. Not only this, till very fruitful eight study tours have been sponsored.
Strategy has been finalised for the next year for taking technical education to higher standards in Madhya Pradesh. In this is also included state recognition to polytechnic and engineering college educational wings, and setting up of placement cells in vocational educational institutions, and five new polytechnics.
We also plan to revise four syllabi curricula to make them more viable. For the next 20 years, an impressive plan is also in the pipeline under which technical education in the state is being evaluated by a vocational agency. In the coming year'sstrategy for establishing a special vocational centre is also included on SEZ for such development.
