The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has initiated steps to improve the quality of technical education in the country. Beginning from the current year, the council has started sanctioning additional courses/ increase in intake only to those institutions where each of the existing courses is running satisfactorily. Based on the new parameters, the sanctioned intakes are 1531 less in Pharmacy for the year 2005-’06 as compared to the previous year. Eight Pharmacy colleges cannot admit students unless they rectify the faculty deficiencies by July 7, 2005.

The decision came after inspections carried out by the council, which showed that the technical institutions in the country are having serious problems of faculty shortage both in terms of quantity and quality. Lack of academic leadership on account of the absence of the qualified principals, poor remuneration to teachers, contractual and temporary appointments and overcrowding of colleges due to the running of unapproved programmes and multiple programmes in same premises were some of the major deficiencies that were identified. AICTE has also taken note of the inadequate laboratory, workshops, hostel and library facilities in many of the institutions. The council will also tackle the problem of overcharging of fees.

Realising the gravity of the situation, the Council has decided to give an opportunity to the institutions to make up their deficiencies and improve the quality of delivery, which is currently far below expectations. The Council therefore, has decided to concentrate on the most critical deficiency i.e. shortage of faculty in institutions for extension of approval for the year 2005-’06.

According to an official note, the extension of approval has been granted subject to rectification of deficiencies by 31st August 2005. In cases where the faculty shortage is upto 25% of required strength, the intake has been maintained at the existing level. Where the faculty shortfall in a course is between 25% and 50%, a pro-rata reduction in the course intake has been made. Where the faculty is less than even 50% in a course, admission for the year 2005-’06 in the concerned course has not been allowed. This reduction may be proportionately restored if the institution is able to recruit more faculty by 7 July, 2005 and intimate the Council by way of a declaration.

Based on these policy parameters, the sanctioned intakes are 25369 in Pharmacy for the year 2005-’06 as compared to 26890 in Pharmacy for the year 2004-’05. Eight out of 445 Colleges in Pharmacy cannot admit students unless they rectify the faculty deficiencies by 7.7.2005.

The council has been mandated under the AICTE Act, 1987 to ensure maintenance of standards with regard to technical education in the country. In exercise of this mandate, the Council insists on fulfillment of the minimum requirements prescribed for imparting technical education by the institutions so that quality is not compromised and stakeholders are satisfied. The Council undertakes an annual inspection of the institutions and conveys any shortcoming/ deficiency to them for rectification. This year the Council had carried out inspections of all courses offered by an institution simultaneously and appraised the strengths and weaknesses of each course run by an institution. The new Approval Process put in place by the Council ensured greater transparency, effective participation of stakeholders and consultation with the concerned agencies i.e. State Government and Affiliating Universities. The holistic inspections/appraisals have brought out areas of serious concern and indicated shortages in critical areas.