Lessons in engg education

The State Higher Education Council’s allotment of seats for admissions to first year engineering courses under convener quota is a big relief for both parents and students who are on edge over the ongoing agitations for and against bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. Since the list released on Tuesday was the first, there is plenty of hope for thousands of other aspirants in the next and final phase in the last week of September. Considering the number of engineering institutions the State has – 643 – and the number of seats available for rankers other than in the management quota – 2,34,488 – it should be surprising if an applicant doesn’t get admission as long as he/she doesn’t mind pursuing his/her dream somewhere in the State.

According to reports, only 1, 26, 390 seats were filled in the first phase, leaving 1, 08, 098 seats vacant. That means almost 50 per cent of admissions are still open and none doubts they would all be filled. Clearly, the availability has outstripped the demand by so much that some engineering colleges have to close down for lack of students. As of now, 13 engineering and technology colleges have zero admissions and another 150 have poor show. Only 92 colleges have put up ‘house full’ signs.

This year’s trend is not new; in the last academic year too, a somewhat similar situation had arisen, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas where the institutions exist only in name without proper infrastructure and staff. Their dismal academic performance and pathetic physical conditions don’t inspire students in any manner; on the other hand, the colleges invite criticism for opening them either to immortalize the name of some local leader or his nearest and dearest one as a great educationist. The plight of these colleges is understandable, considering the fact that whoever has started them may have had good intentions of providing higher technical education to boys and girls in their vicinity.