TECHNICAL EDUCATION

According to the 7th schedule of the Constitution, the Union Government is responsible for coordination and determination of standards in institutions for higher education or research in science and technology. In addition, the Union Government has the sole responsibility for the maintenance of the technical institutions under Central universities and a few Central institutions. The Union is also solely responsible for the maintenance of vocational and technical institutions in Union Territories.

2. The responsibilities of the Union Government for the development of technical education is discharged through a broad-based system of grant-in-aid and loans to State Governments and institutions under the five-year Plans.

3. Admission Targets and Achievements:

The original physical target fixed in the third Plan for technical education was 20,000 annual admissions to the first degree course and 40,000 annual admissions at the diploma level. This target was later revised to 25,000 for the degree course and 50,000 for the diploma course. In order to fulfil this target, so far 124 degree institutions and 274 institutions at the diploma level have been started. This, however, does not include the 'girls polytechnics'. As regards achievements, the original targets have been exceeded. During 1966-67, over 24,000 students were admitted at the degree level and over 45,000 at the diploma level (excluding admissions to the girls' polytechnics).

4. Future Expansion:

A preliminary assessment of the man- power requirements showed that no substantial expansion of existing facilities at the degree level would be necessary as it was felt that facilities which had already been created would be able to meet the demand for the fourth and fifth Plans. However, a Committee, under the chairmanship of Prof. V. K. R. V. Rao, Member, Planning Commission, was appointed to re-assess

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the requirements of technical personnel. This Committee, inter alia, recommended that: (1) no further expansion at the degree level is necessary in the conventional branches, like civil, electrical and mechanical engineering, except a marginal addition of 1,000 seats to be achieved in the final year of the fourth Plan, mainly by expansion of existing colleges to keep up the growth rate; (2) facilities should be provided for about 1,300 additional admissions to specialised branches of engineering; and (3) target for expansion at the diploma level should be of the order of 14,700 and this should be reviewed by the middle of the fourth Plan.

5. Qualitative Improvement:

With the considerable expansion of facilities for technical education during the first three Plans, emphasis has now shifted to its qualitative improvement. Accordingly, on the basis of the findings of the various expert committees, the fourth Five-Year Plan for technical education has been oriented towards quality improvement and various steps are being taken in order to improve the standard of technical education in the country.

6. Technical Teacher Training Programme:

The one factor which influences standards of teaching the most is the preparation of competent teachers in adequate numbers. No amount of physical facilities will improve the situation until and unless the technical institutions are properly staffed. To meet the acute shortage of teachers at the degree level, a provision was made, during 1966, for the training of about 200 additional teachers at 12 centres under a scheme which was initiated in 1959. During the year, 109 teachers completed their training and were assigned to different engineering colleges for regular appointment.

7. To meet the even more acute shortage of teachers in diploma institutions, the scheme for the establishment of four regional centres for the training of teachers for polytechnics was initiated during 1966-67. Three of the centres--at Bhopal, Calcutta and Madras- had admitted students. The fourth will admit students during the next academic year. These institutions provide two types of courses, one of 18 months' duration for those having degree in engineering and the other of 2 1/2 years' duration for those having diploma qualifications.

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8. Summer school programmes have also been organised since 1964 to provide the teachers of engineering colleges and polytechnics with the opportunity of learning the latest methods and techniques of teaching and to become familiar with recent developments. The experience of the past few years has shown that the summer schools do serve a very useful purpose in achieving the long range goal of incorporating the 'new approach' in laboratory and classroom instruction. It is now considered that these should become a regular and permanent feature of the system of technical education in the country.

9. The number of centres was increased from 8 in 1964 to 20 in 1966. In 1967, it is proposed to organise 22 summer schools-8 for polytechnics and 14 for engineering colleges. These schools are organised by the Association of Principals of Technical Institutions (India) on behalf of the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development. The National Science Foundation of the United States of America will provide American experts to assist Indian experts in conducting the courses.

10. These training programmes for teachers will go a long way in improving teaching in technical institutions in future.

11. With a view to retaining teachers in technical institutions, efforts are being made, through the State Governments, to improve the salary scales of teachers and to provide them with other amenities.

12. Postgraduate Education and Research:

Another important factor which primarily affects the development of technical education is the improvement of postgraduate education and research. By the end of 1966, about 40 centres had been started for postgraduate education with an enrolment of about 1,500. The Indian Institutes of Technology are also concentrating their efforts towards the development and expansion of postgraduate education and research. In addition, the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, which is the oldest institution offering postgraduate education, has also been strengthened by giving it adequate financial assistance.

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13. Indian Institute of Technology :

The Indian Institute of Technology have been established with the main object of training high-grade engineers and technologists. A statement the salient statistics is given below: 

                                          

 
        
                                           Admis-    Total             Outturn
             Name of the Institute         sions     Student --------------------------
                                           Made      Strength    Degree  Masters  Doc-
                                           n 1996                               torates
                                           iat
                                           Under-
                                           graduate
                                            Level
        
                                               

        
        IIT, Kharagpur                          326     2,616     381     204      16
        
        IIT, Bombay                             394     2,059     299     198       8
        
        TIT, Madras                             240     1,620     203     102       3
        
        IIT, Kanpur                             300     1,351      35      16      10
        
        IIT, New Delhi                          270     1,402     111      --      --

The Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi, started its postgraduate activities recently. The institution is still in the process of development.

14. Other All-India Institutions:

A brief account of the other all-India Institutions of technical education is given below:

(i) School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi: The School is the only institute of its kind offering courses in town planning and housing in addition to providing normal facilities for the study of architecture at the undergraduate level leading to B. Arch. The institution is also offering part-time courses. During 1966, the School admitted 109 students and at present,its total enrolment is 456.

(ii) Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad: The School carried on its normal activities during 1966. It is proposed to convert this institution into an autonomous body and confer on it the status of a 'deemed university'

(iii) National Institute of Foundry and Forge, Ranchi: Pre- liminary work connected with the establishment of this Institute has been completed. The Institute, which will be fully financed by the Central Government, is expected to start functioning shortly. It is being assisted by the Special Fund of the United

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Nations Development Programme which will, provide foreign experts, fellowships, equipment and other supplies.

(iv) National Institute of Training in Industrial Engineering Bombay: This Institute is another venture which has been started with the assistance of an international organisation and industry for training in different aspects of industrial engineering for the benefit of supervisors and engineers working in industry. During 1966, the institution conducted 40 short-term courses, in various productivity techniques and about 400 trainees took part in these courses.

15. Management Institution:

In the field of management, the two all-India institutions at Ahmedabad and Calcutta, which were set up in collaboration with Ford Foundation, State Governments and industry, did good work during the year. These institutions admitted 88 and 100 candidates respectively in the first year of the two-year postgraduate course and the diploma courses. The total student population in both these institutions together is 354. The institutions are also doing some good research work in the field of management.

16. Administrative Staff College, Hyderabad:

The College has expanded its activities and set up consultative and applied research divisions. Under this programme, it has started new course in management, both short-term and long-term

17. Regional Engineering College :

Seven out of the 14 Regional Engineering Colleges, located at Warangal, Surathakal (Mangalore), Durgapur, Jamshedpur, Allahabad, Bhopal and Nagpur have almost completed their first phase of development and have started the second phase by introducing postgraduate courses. These courses have been started with assistance from the United Nations Special Fund. Twelve industry-oriented postgraduate courses, with a total intake of 120 students, have been started during the period under review.

18. Practical Training:

During the period under review, about 2,000 training places were secured for the training of graduates and diploma-holders in various industrial establishments. Under the scheme, a graduate trainee is entitled to a stipend of Rs. 250 per month normally for a period of one year. The diploma holders are paid a stipend of Rs. 150 per month.

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Besides, the Directorate of Practical Training was able to secure 700 places for mining degree and diploma-holders. This Directorate has been established especially for organising training of mining engineers, so that all the mining engineers may get their proper training needed under the statutory requirements.

19. Import of Equipment:

Assistance to technical institutions it extended for procurement of equipment and other controlled materials. During the year under review, under the Trade Plan Scheme, orders to the extent of Rs. 221.58 lakh were placed with the State Trading Corporation for import of equipment for technical institutions from Poland, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, German Democratic Republic, Hungary, USSR, etc. Apart from this, the institutions were assisted in getting about Rs. 90 lakh worth of foreign exchange for importing equipment from other sources.

20. Grants and Loam:

During 1966-67, grant-in-aid amounting to Rs. 18.30 crore is expected to be sanctioned to the State Governments and engineering and technical institutions in the country under the various schemes of technical education under the Five-Year Plan. It is also expected that loans amounting to Rs. 2.71 crore will be released , for the construction of students hostels and staff quarters.

21. Financial Provisions :

Financial provisions for technical education for 1966-67 and 1967-68 are indicated below: 

        
                                          

                                                               Rs. in Lakh
                                          

 
        
        1966-67
             Original                                           19,91.61
        
             Revised                                           20,24.04
        
        1967-68                                                27,00.39

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