The decision to discontinue all the six courses so far offered by the Model Industrial Training Institute (ITI) at Eravathukunnu in Kozhikode from this academic year has come as a blow to the students from the region who seek quality professional education in the industrial segment in the government sector.
The Union government as part of a policy decision has opted to discontinue all the courses including the two-year programmes in Industrial Electronics Control, Audio Video Electronics and Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Systems, so far offered by the institute as part of converting it into an Instructor Training Centre from this year.
Corporation landThe institute under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India, was functioning on a 15-acre land given by the Corporation at Eravathukunnu here, offering quality professional courses for the last three decades.
This was also the only such institute in the State under the Central government. Hundreds of students have come out of the institute to receive good placements in different organisations, says Manoj Kumar, an alumnus of the technical institute, who is a senior technician working with the All India Radio.
According to him, the institute in its new avatar would be of use only to a limited number of students. “Moreover the institute has all the physical facilities to be upgraded as an instructor training centre without winding up the existing courses,” says Mr. Kumar.
The decision however has been taken as part of the new policy of the Union government, says the Institute Principal M. Shajahan. “Similar changes have been introduced to other ITIs in the country as well,” he said. The institute had already begun to admit students to the new instructor training courses, he said.
Meanwhile, the Kozhikode Corporation unanimously passed a resolution on Wednesday urging the Union government to review its decision and continue to offer the earlier courses while altering it as an instructor training centre.
Retain courses“What we demand is to retain the earlier courses at the institute while introducing the changes so that a large number of students can benefit from this,” said T.P. Koyamoideen, who raised the issue at the council. “We are also planning to form an action committee to mobilise public opinion on this and bring the issue to the notice of the authorities,” he said.
