In Punjab, the education landscape is undergoing a seismic shift, with a significant impact on technical colleges. A startling 55% of seats in these institutions remain unclaimed, reflecting a growing trend among Punjab’s youth to pursue higher education in Canadian universities.
This mass exodus has left local technical colleges grappling with unprecedented challenges and sparked a quest for solutions.
In the previous academic session, the situation was already concerning, with 45% of seats remaining vacant after the October 30 cut-off date.
This year, the crisis deepened further, with less than a quarter of Punjab’s students seeking admission by the September 15 deadline. Out of approximately one lakh available seats, nearly 55,000 across various courses lay unoccupied.
The impact of this trend reverberates through colleges affiliated with IK Gujral Punjab Technical University in Kapurthala and Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical University in Bathinda.
These institutions, adhering to the guidelines of the All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), are witnessing a decline in enrollment. For instance, in colleges affiliated with IK Gujral Punjab Technical University, only 40,000 out of 80,000 seats have been filled.
Similarly, in colleges affiliated with Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical University, only 8,500 out of 24,000 seats have been filled.
Addressing this crisis, Dr. Anshu Kataria, president of the Punjab Unaided Colleges Association, emphasized the need for an extended cut-off date.
The association has approached the Supreme Court, highlighting the challenges faced by students from Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, and the North-East in securing seats within the allotted timeframe.
This trend is not limited to specific courses but encompasses diverse fields, including B.Tech, MBA, BCA, BBA, and BHM. Even private Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) are grappling with the exodus, with 45% of their seats lying vacant, as reported by Shimanshu Gupta, president of the Private ITI Association.
In response to this crisis, educational authorities are intensifying efforts to enhance students’ skills and ensure transparent evaluation systems.
DPS Kharbanda, Secretary of Technical Education and Industrial Training, highlighted ongoing initiatives aimed at delivering quality education and creating local employment opportunities.
However, overcoming this challenge requires a collaborative approach involving policymakers, educational institutions, and the community.
The situation calls for innovative solutions to staunch the flow of students seeking education abroad and revitalize Punjab’s technical education sector.
With 55% of seats vacant, urgent and strategic interventions are imperative to preserve the vibrancy of Punjab’s technical colleges and nurture the next generation of skilled professionals.