Admissions in polytechnic colleges have observed a decline recently. Considering the issue of admissions in polytechnic colleges in the district going down, the Directorate of Technical Education (DTE) has launched a school connect programme. This school connect programme will consist of counselling sessions before the Class X board examinations.
Students can apply for various courses in polytechnic colleges in diploma programmes in various engineering fields, once they have appeared in the Class X examinations. Under the programme, students will be given information before their preliminary examinations on January 15.
Rajendra Gaikwad, joint director, DTE, Pune, declared, “We have to make sure that 100 per cent admissions are completed in each government college. There are seven government polytechnic colleges in Pune zone. And we have planned a school connect programme in each district school.”
He further said, “These are government colleges, and we offer courses in minimal fees. We want more students to take admissions in these colleges.”
Government Polytechnic College, Pune, is one of the most approached colleges in the region. This college had filled all its seats in the last couple of years. However, 1-2 per cent seats are lying vacant this year.
“It is important to reach students in class X, and they know about the options available apart from conventional courses like Medical and engineering. Students also get hands-on experience in the field,” Gaikwad said.
DR Nandanwar, Principal of Government Polytechnic College, Awsari, Pune, said, “Students of Class X become busy after their prelim examination. Therefore, we have planned all the counselling sessions before January 15 so that students come to know about them.”
The counselling sessions will have much-needed information. For example, how polytechnic colleges have hands-on industry experience, internships and how students can immediately start working after their industrial training. Indeed, there are various courses in electronic and telecommunication, mechanical, computer, civil engineering.
DTE officials explained that last year, while there was a career fair, yet, it was too late as students had already planned about their career options.
