November 26, 2001

        The Centre proposes to have a 25-year Vision Document prepared covering the entire gamut of technical education in the country. Unlike IT vision document, the government feels that instead of going in for bits and pieces now and then, it would be fruitful to have a broader and longer perspective on all aspects of technical education. It will include other important areas like biotechnology and earthquake engineering, both of which have greater relevance today and in the coming years. Many such areas will be needed to be included in the Document. This information was given by the Secretary, Secondary and Higher Education Shri M.K. Kaw while inaugurating here today a one-day Conference of State Education Secretaries (Technical). He said this conference will hereafter become an annual feature.

        Shri Kaw said that we have, islands of excellence and strength and wider areas with weaknesses. The quality of technical education is not upto the desired level, though there has been a proliferation of technical educational institutions in the country. Calling for joint efforts by the States, the Centre and the private sector, Shri Kaw said, concentration should be on quality. There is no point in producing huge technical manpower with poor quality, he said.

        Urging the states also to prepare their own vision document, Shri Kaw said this will help in having a better synergy between the central and state programmes. He told them that Regional Engineering Colleges (RECs) are now being gradually provided deemed university status and asked them to build bridges between service providers and educational system. Speaking about IITs he said that its examination system needs to be revamped. Their linkage with the state education system is not satisfactory. We should dwell upon how to make IIT Indo-centric. Management educational system also needs a re-look taking into consideration the country’s requirements and the global outlook.

        The Special Secretary, Education Shri Ashok Chandra called for evolving modalities of delivery of technical education. He said we have to expand our capabilities to produce technical manpower which is globally competitive. The Chairman of the All-India Council for Technical Education Dr. R. Natarajan said the most important stake holders are the students and ways and means have to be found by all concerned to make them efficient professionals.

        The agenda before the Conference is - World Bank Project on Technical Education, All-India Engineering Entrance Examination, Judgement of the Supreme Court on the Power of AICTE to Grant Approval for Technical Institutes, AICTE’s Goal in Promoting Technical Education, Community Polytechnics Schemes and the Role of Technical Teachers Training Institute.