AICTE declines approval of Engineering colleges in the state

The number of engineering colleges getting approval from All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) in the State is on the decline.This is evident from the number of colleges that have got approval from the apex technical body since 2014-15 till this academic year. While the State had 326 engineering colleges during 2014-15, the number has come down to 239 in the academic year 2018-19. This means as many as 87 private unaided engineering colleges failed to get approval from the AICTE.

According to details available with the AICTE, while 156 pharmacy colleges had approval of the technical body in 2014-15, this number has come down to 131 this year. Similarly, engineering colleges offering postgraduate courses have also dropped from 299 in 2014-15 to 192 this year.

engineering collegeThis apart, during the present academic year, two each engineering and pharmacy colleges knocked on the doors of the AICTE for progressive closure, which means such colleges cannot admit students. However, existing students in such colleges can continue their academics. In fact, four colleges also got approval from the technical body. In all, 77 professional colleges in the State offering engineering, pharmacy, management, MCA and diploma courses have got approval for progressive closure since the academic year 2014-15.

Over 100 courses including postgraduate and undergraduate courses in the professional colleges have been closed this year.One of main reason for closure of colleges and courses was due to the government and the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University-Hyderabad tightening the norms for increasing standards of engineering education in the State. One such norm was PhD being made mandatory to teach postgraduate courses in engineering colleges.

Private colleges with less than 30 per cent for the last five years were asked to shutdown or merge with nearby colleges. Even the State government had come up with a perspective plan for technical education for the academic year 2018-19. In its report, the government had asked the AICTE not to accord permission for new technical colleges in the State.These initiatives taken by the State government to improve engineering education has in fact received appreciation from the AICTE Chairman Anil D Sahasrabudhe.