AP for relaxing norms for private sector in Polytechnics

New Delhi, Apr 11 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh today called for relaxing norms for encouraging private sector participation in Polytechnic education in the country.

In his address at the State Education Ministers' Conference here state minister for Higher and Technical Education P Venkateshwara Rao said AICTE norms for setting up Polytechnics were stringent and required relaxation. There should be higher stipend rates for apprentices. As maintaining high quality technical education, he said AICTE should strictly enforce its norms of AICTE in Engineering/ MBA/MCA Colleges.

Mr Rao thanked the Union Human Resources Minister for sanctioning a new IIT for Andhra Pradesh and apprised the meeting about the steps taken by the State Government in the field of higher and technical education, including starting of four new Universities at Nizamabad, Rajahmundry, Kadapa and Nalgonda and the commencement of 29 Jawahar Knowledge Centres and six modern Gurukuls in 2006-07.

Seven more centres will be set up during 2007-08, he said.

Mr Rao also informed about the measures being taken to strengthen vocational education, which include liberal permissions to private sector to start new vocational education centres.

UNI