The changing economic scenario throughout the world has made several developing countries including India to give utmost importance to technical education. India has taken crucial steps to pursue quality in technical education in order to achieve planned growth. Special efforts are being undertaken to inculcate competitiveness and quality in technically qualified human resources to make it globally acceptable. Such type of education will improve the quality of life of the economically weaker sections of society. Education will get increased allocation, from 8 percent of the budget to 30 percent paving the way for setting up of more institutions for technical education which will yield more jobs.
The Union Cabinet has recently, approved setting up of eight Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) in Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Orissa, Gujarat, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and at Indore in Madhya Pradesh. It has also given approval for taking over the Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University- a constituent unit of the Banaras Hindu University, a Central University, its conversion into an Indian Institute of Technology and integrating it with the IIT system in the country. With the creation of new IITs, high quality technical education will become accessi-ble to bright students.
The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has been given statutory powers through an act of parliament to promote qualitative improvement of such education. The council has initiated several measures for planning, formulation and maintenance of norms and standards, capacity building, accreditation, funding of priority areas, programmes providing access, equality and quality in the field of technical education. So far, these efforts have yielded desired results. India needs to bench mark best practices and build national competitiveness. This requires a thorough revamping of the entire technical system with full involvement and empowerment of stakeholders. Keeping this in mind, a two day conference was held in the capital on Development of Technical Education in India in the month of December last year all the speakers stressed the need to improve quality and accessibility. Technical sessions include:
1. Access, equity and inclusion
2. Quality assurance and Washington Accord Academic reforms and curriculum framework, credit system and evaluation.
3. Faculty development
4. Industry institute interface including public-private partnership.
5. Role of AICTE in the changing global competitiveness.
Coordinated development of technical education system has proved to be a stepping stone for thousands of young people who had no access to regular education. Education is a priority for India and it will remain so till the last youth in the country is qualified in vocational fields as it will also pave the way for eliminating completely the rural- urban divide. Education for all is the buzz word as India wants to take the people together on the path of growth and development. The concept of inclusive growth will cover the entire country and it will lead to reduction of poverty in the long-run. If this section is left out, there will be no overall growth in the country. India has plenty of human resources and to make them globally acceptable a well organized, quality technical education is needed and that are what India is striving for.