HYDERABAD: The state government on Monday constituted a high-level committee headed by Advisor to Government (Public Affairs) K Keshava Rao to hold consultations with stakeholders on the proposed restructuring of polytechnic colleges.
The move comes in the wake of protests by polytechnic students over GO 97, which provides for the merger of polytechnics with Young India Skills University. The students raised concerns that the merger could undermine the autonomy of the State Board of Technical Education and Training (SBTET) and reduce diploma education to general labour training.
The committee will examine issues concerning stakeholders and submit specific recommendations to the government within 30 days.
According to a Government Order (GO) issued on Monday, the government will take further action based on the committee’s recommendations.
The GO said the government had established the Young India Skills University (YISU) to bridge the gap between conventional academic learning and industry requirements through industry-led curricula, hands-on training, modern laboratories, internships, apprenticeships and stronger pathways to employment.
The university was conceived as a platform to bring the government, academia and industry together to develop future-ready human resources.
As part of this initiative, and to bring greater convergence between the polytechnic system and the state’s emerging skill-development and industry ecosystem, the government issued a GO on June 16 proposing changes to the existing structure.
The government had then said the move was aimed at strengthening polytechnic education, modernising curricula and infrastructure, increasing industry participation, improving internship and apprenticeship opportunities, and enhancing students’ employability and pathways to higher education.
However, the proposed changes have triggered concerns among students, faculty, and other stakeholders over their possible impact on the existing diploma framework, academic progression, ECET and lateral-entry opportunities, fee structure, employee service conditions, institutional identity and the role of existing technical-education bodies.
The government said it was committed to modernising polytechnic education while protecting the legitimate academic and career interests of students and other stakeholders.
The committee comprises Prof M Kodandaram, Member of the Telangana Legislative Council; Prof Shantha Sinha, Professor (Retd); Navin Mittal, Special Chief Secretary; and the Secretary to Government, SHAKTI Department, as members. The Commissioner of Technical Education will be the member-convenor.