Huge Investments Made to Improve Tech Education in India

A whopping Rs.2,430 crores will be invested under the second phase of the Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme (TEQIP) in India. Around 200 engineering colleges will be competitively selected to bridge the huge gap between the quality and education standards of the IITs and others.

The objective of this improvisation of technical colleges is to upgrade the overall standards of education. The Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs (CCEA) gave thumbs up to the next phase of the scheme of education up-gradation running since 2003. IITs offer an unsurpassable quality of technical education in India and so, the efforts are being made to bring other engineering colleges closer to their superior levels. Along with assistance from World Bank (Rs.1,395.50 cr.), state and private institution (Rs.518.50 cr. and Rs.16 cr.) too will make investments in the government’s mega project TEQIP (contributing Rs.500 cr.) divided into three phases.

The scheme is 10 to 12 years long with first phase being completed in the year 2009 covering 127 colleges in 13 states. This project is open to all engineering institutions approved by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). The committee CCEA chaired by Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh has recently approved the proposal for investment in second phase of the project.

The mammoth investments made into upgrading quality of education in India is surely going to strengthen institutions resulting in improved learning outcomes and employment chances for graduates. It is all set to scale up post graduate education and demand-driven research and development and innovation. This would further lead to establishment of centers of excellence and imparting of pedagogical training as well. Such initiatives are definitely a key to add quality professionals to the already talented workforce of India while making it one of the most sought after human resource destination.

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Novel Learning Mantra : Borrow and Study

The young generation in India has been maturing everyday, call it Western influence or age of technology or increasing awareness or anything else. The Generation Y definitely knows how to handle itself and overgrow the boundaries they have been fenced in for so long. Thwarted till today by societal pressure, they are now coming up as the future leaders who are poised and competent enough to take on the world.

These global leaders of the future are taking rein of their lives in their hands from as early as their schooling times. No longer hidden behind their mothers’ shelter or guided by their parents, the youth of today is ready to unharness the horse and take it full on. This begins even before they complete their schooling as they plan their career path and the course of action well in advance. Immediately after clearing Class X exams, they would join coaching centers for preparation of engineering, medical, law and other entrances for various government and private institutes of higher education. And then after preparing for two years and clearing the entrance, they get into the graduation colleges. Then begins the preparation for clearing through post graduate colleges offering courses like MBA, MCA, MA, etc. These institutes generally charge hefty sums of money as tuition fees which salaried people may not be able to afford owing to the increasing cost of living and fluctuating markets.

Here comes the role of education loans as they have made it much easier for students to pursue higher education. Taking loans or borrowing from banks was earlier seen in negative light as it invites liabilities and burdens but has become important today to live a quality life. So, the education fee of students is financed by banks who then repay the loan after completing the course and getting a good job.

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