കേരളത്തിലെ എഞ്ചിനീയറിംഗ് വിദ്യാഭ്യാസത്തിന്റെ ദുരവസ്ഥ : Dr. R V G Menon | Bijumohan Channel

Summary

The transcript discusses the state of engineering education in Kerala, highlighting the proliferation of colleges, many of which struggle with low pass rates and inadequate job placements. Despite a high demand for engineering education, many students enter without genuine interest, driven by societal pressure for stable jobs. The system faces issues such as excessive back papers, underqualified faculty, and poor management. These challenges have resulted in low-quality graduates, raising concerns about the future of both students and society. The lack of meaningful discussions around these problems is a key issue.

Takeaways

• 😀 Kerala has 174 engineering colleges, with 8 under central government responsibility, 12 state-aided, 6 directly run by universities, and 22 run by government agencies.
• 😀 Private self-financing colleges make up the majority of engineering institutions in Kerala, with 119 colleges in this category.
• 😀 Many private colleges were established in response to high demand for engineering education, but this demand has dwindled, leaving many institutions struggling.
• 😀 The technical university in Kerala started tracking college performance, revealing that many colleges have low pass rates and fail to fill student seats.
• 😀 Some engineering colleges are using loopholes to admit students with low qualifications, such as removing minimum marks requirements for entrance exams.
• 😀 The high failure rate among engineering students is a major concern, with less than 40% passing, and many students accumulating 'back papers' that hinder their graduation.
• 😀 The 'year-out' system, where students who fail multiple subjects must repeat a year, has been controversial and was temporarily suspended due to student protests.
• 😀 Students who fail to pass within the standard duration often struggle to find employment, and many end up working in low-skilled jobs despite their engineering degrees.
• 😀 The increasing number of engineering graduates who lack the necessary skills and qualifications creates a growing societal problem, leading to low confidence and mental health issues.
• 😀 Many students enter engineering due to external pressures, such as family expectations, rather than a genuine interest in the field, which affects their overall performance and future careers.
• 😀 Despite the abundance of engineering graduates, there is a shortage of discussion on how to improve the quality of education and ensure that students are equipped for the workforce.

Q & A

How many engineering colleges are there in Kerala, and what is the distribution between government and private institutions?

Kerala has 174 engineering colleges. Of these, 8 are under the central government or its agencies, 12 are aided by the state government, 6 are run by universities, and 22 are managed by government agencies. The remaining 119 are private self-financing colleges.

What was the initial purpose behind starting the School of Engineering at Cochin University?

The School of Engineering at Cochin University was started with the purpose of solving financial issues. The initiative was led by the then Vice Chancellor, who saw it as a way to generate revenue.

What issues exist with the Faculty of Engineering at Cochin University?

The Faculty of Engineering at Cochin University is well-qualified and has good research publications, but it has not yet been recognized as a university faculty. Despite this, the faculty members remain unorganized and have not voiced much concern over the issue.

Why did the number of engineering colleges increase in Kerala, and what is the current situation with these colleges?

The increase in the number of engineering colleges in Kerala was driven by the demand for engineering seats, with the argument that many students were leaving the state for higher education. Today, there are 119 private colleges, many of which are underfunded and have low student pass rates.

What role did the Technical University play in improving transparency in Kerala's engineering education system?

The Technical University, under the leadership of its first Vice Chancellor, Dr. Kuncharia, started collecting data on student admissions, pass rates, and campus placements. This data, made available on the university’s website, revealed that many colleges had poor student outcomes, with less than 10% of students passing.

How have some engineering colleges tried to maintain student admissions despite falling standards?

Some colleges have resorted to lowering the minimum requirements for admissions, such as reducing the marks needed in entrance exams and allowing students who did not take the entrance exam to be admitted. This has been done to fill seats in the face of declining demand.

What is the issue with the 'back papers' system in Kerala's engineering colleges?

The 'back papers' system refers to the practice where students fail exams and must retake them. This results in a large number of students who, despite completing the course, do not pass all exams, leading to delayed graduation and limited job prospects. Many students with back papers never complete their degrees.

How does the 'year-out' system work, and why is it controversial?

The 'year-out' system mandates that students who fail to pass a minimum number of subjects within a year are held back and must retake exams before being promoted to the next year. This system has sparked protests, with some students demanding its removal, arguing that it delays their progress.

What happens to students who fail to complete their engineering degrees due to back papers or the year-out system?

Many of these students do not find work in their field, despite spending years in education. Some are employed at low-paying jobs in the private sector, while others are forced to leave for places like Bangalore, where they might end up in IT or other industries that do not require a degree.

What is the broader societal impact of the failure rates in engineering education in Kerala?

The high failure rates and the increasing number of students with back papers have led to a loss of confidence among students and their families. Many students are left with a degree but no job prospects, which causes significant mental and emotional stress for both the students and their parents. This has become a larger societal issue, but it remains under-discussed.