In a move to bridge the demand-supply gap for skilled labour, the government plans to set up 300 polytechnics in the country in the public-private partnership (PPP) mode.
Under the scheme, the Centre will pay R3 crore per polytechnic while the state would be expected to shell out R2 crore besides offering land for the institute. PPP in polytechnics is a part of the umbrella plan for PPP in higher education in the 12th Plan.
“Each polytechnic requires R10-12 crore to be set up. The rest of the investment will be put in by the private players. We have invited industry chambers like the CII, Ficci and Siam for talks and expect them to share the best practices with the government,? SS Mantha, AICTE chairman told FE.
In fact, under the sub-mission on polytechnics coordinated action on skill development, the government plans to provide short-term skill and vocational training to rural community and unorganised sectors under a renewed Community Polytechnic Scheme in 1,000 polytechnics. Of these, 300 are to be set up in the PPP mode.
There are almost 2,500 polytechnics in the country and their annual intake is approximately half that of the the degree level engineering institutions. They offer three-year diploma programmes in engineering and technology, applied arts and crafts and other courses.
?We are looking at 10 polytechnics per state in the PPP mode as till now this model was used only in the infrastructure and road construction industries,? Mantha added.
The council has met state secretaries and decided that the private partners will have to deposit R10 crore for the construction of building, equipment and running of the polytechnic.
?We are always interested in skill development but it is not qualified as to what the government expects from the industry. The contours of the partnership are yet to be defined,? said Sandhya Chintala, senior director, Education Initiative, Nasscom.
As per the AICTE’s policy document, the same company may fund different polytechnics and there can be no exclusive arrangements between an institute and firms. Further, the industry partners are eligible for 60% of the total seats on the board of governors.