Minister for Higher Education K.T. Jaleel has said that new generation courses need to be incorporated into polytechnics in the State to make them more appealing to youngsters and to ensure employability.
Speaking at the global alumni meet ‘Thirike’ of Kerala Government Polytechnic in Kozhikode on Saturday, he called upon the alumni of the institution to help develop the infrastructure so that the government could start new courses in the institution.
“Despite very good standards maintained in primary and secondary education, Kerala is lacking in the higher education sector. The State is not a destination for higher education for people outside the State, despite having the most peaceful academic environment in the country. This needs to change,” said the Minister, pointing out that the academic standards were the major reason.
“The first B. Tech batch of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University registered only 36.6% pass. While girls scored 51% pass, only 25% boys passed. However, the pass percentage in polytechnics is much better,” he said, highlighting the need for new courses such as Artificial Intelligence, robotics, interior design engineering and food technology, recently introduced in engineering colleges in the State, to be introduced in polytechnics as well.
The Minister also called upon teachers to not wait for orientation and refresher courses and update themselves to stay abreast of latest technology. MLA A. Pradeep Kumar presided over the event. Principal K.P. Rajeevan and alumni association president Santhosh Kumar A. were present.
The Kerala Government Polytechnic, that began in 1946 under the Madras Government, is one of the first polytechnics in the State and the first in Malabar. The alumni meet had the participation of around 2,000 former students of batches 1952 to 2018.
