BHUBANESWAR: The Skill Development and Technical Education (SDTE) Department has expressed concern over the low success rate among diploma students of polytechnics.
Last year's semester results showed that barely about half the students managed to pass the tests. In the first semester, the pass rate was 50.5 per cent while in the second, it was 56.5 per cent. In the third semester, the success rate was 53.5 per cent.
Principal Secretary LN Gupta who took stock of the activities of State Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (SCTEVT) recently has suggested that reasons behind the low pass percentage must be analysed and measures to improve the status be taken up in consultation with the Directorate of Technical Education and Training (DTET). Principals of all polytechnics must be involved in the process.
He has also suggested a spate of reforms to streamline the administrative and academic functioning of the polytechnics as well as ITIs of the State which churn out a large chunk of skilled manpower.
Presently, ITIs and polytechnics are not being inspected and DTET must chalk out a plan to inspect each institution. Though all diploma institutions are affiliated to SCTEVT, there is no governing policy for affiliation at present. Gupta has directed that every institution must upload their details on the council's portals at the beginning of the academic session. Before affiliation is granted, inspection of the institutions is mandatory.
It has also been decided that two separate wings will be created for diploma and ITI courses so that the two branches are overseen by different sets of officers. At present, the same officers handle the two courses. For this, another post of Controller of Examinations will be created. Interestingly, several senior positions of SCTEVT are lying vacant.
It was also felt that existing process of online form fill-up by institutions be dispensed as it is fraught with errors. Instead, the students should be allowed to fill up the forms and get acquainted with the process.
Gupta has also expressed concern over delay in diploma admission which leads to tinkering of the academic calendar. All lateral entry admissions must be completed by mid-June while direct entry should be wrapped up by July-end. Similarly, online students' grievance redressal system will also be put in place for timely redressal of complaints.
Diploma result
Barely about half of the students managed to pass last year’s semester examinations
In first semester, the pass rate was 50.5 pc while in second, it was 56.5 pc
In third semester, the success rate was 53.5 pc
