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The Telangana government on Monday, August 24, constituted a six-member high-level committee to examine the future of polytechnic education after students protested over the proposed integration of polytechnic education with the Young India Skills University (YISU).
The panel will be headed by Adviser (Public Affairs) K Keshava Rao and include MLC M Kodandaram, former National Commission for Protection of Child Rights chairperson Shanta Sinha, Special Chief Secretary (Energy) Navin Mittal, Secretary of the SHAKTI (Department of Skill Human Capital and Knowledge Training Initiatives) Department Hari Chandana Dasari and Commissioner of Technical Education A Devasena.
The committee has been asked to hold consultations with students, faculty and other stakeholders, examine the concerns surrounding the proposed changes and submit specific recommendations within 30 days. The government will take further action based on its findings.
The move comes amid opposition to GO No 97, issued in June, which sought greater convergence between the polytechnic education system and the emerging skill-development and industry ecosystem.
The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) on Monday staged a protest near Indira Park, demanding that polytechnic education continue under the SBTET and that GO No 97 be withdrawn. SFI leaders also raised concerns over the absence of clarity on lateral entry into engineering courses, Engineering Common Entrance Test (ECET) eligibility and employment prospects.
The organisation said SBTET recognition and approvals from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) were essential for students seeking lateral entry and appearing for ECET. It also objected to the reported denial of police permission for a protest at Dharna Chowk.
Several protestors were detained when they attempted to proceed towards the proposed protest site and were taken to Domalguda police station. The organisation warned of statewide protests if the government did not withdraw the order.
The government, meanwhile, said YISU was established to address the gap between conventional academic education and industry requirements through specialised programmes and interventions and maintained that the proposed changes were aimed at bringing polytechnic education closer to the evolving skills and employment ecosystem.
