Arun Bangotra
The main objective of polytechnic education is to provide technical and vocational education to the youth and training, technology transfer and skills development to enhance the socio- economic development of the country.
Polytechnic education plays a vital role in human resource development of a country by creating skilled manpower thereby enhancing the industrial productivity. Polytechnic can be described as technical diploma course that provides vocational education in technical domains, industrial arts or applied sciences. The duration of the course is three years. Various Courses Offered by Polytechnics can be broadly categorized into two divisions: Diploma in technical domain (engineering related) and Diploma in non-technical domain (arts, sciences, etc). The major branches of Diploma are Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Automobile Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Information Technology, Computer Engineering, Electronics & Communication Engineering, Instrumentation & Control, Architecture Assistantship, Wood Technology, Textile Designing, Wood Technology, Fashion Designing, Hotel Management etc. Taking up one of these courses could make you eligible for a job in the private or government sectors at an early age. The engineering diploma course by a polytechnic can be described as a pre-engineering course that easily provides hands-on exposure to an individual in specialized fields.
In J&K there are 22 Government Polytechnic colleges in each district and 07 private affiliated with J&K Board of Technical education. The eligibility for the Polytechnic is passing class 10th with minimum 35% marks or 12th with science or ITI passed in relevant trade. The J&K Board of Technical Education conducts admission for various Polytechnics of J&K. Reservations to backward classes are provided during the admission as per reservation rules.
There are several reasons to take up the Polytechnic course as career after 10th. Few of them are:
* The courses are offered for less fee structure.
* Can be obtained after class 10th and avails early earnings and job at early age after Diploma.
* Many colleges also facilitate campus selections and the recruiters are of reputed companies.
* Practical knowledge with the industrial visits and industrial or technical exhibitions conducted by the colleges in different levels.
* Chance of qualification improvement as polytechnic facilitates the admission to B.Tech 2nd year under lateral entry in various Engineering colleges in most of the states. So, your engineering degree would be completed in a total duration of 6 years after 10th with excellent practical exposure and sound technical knowledge as compared to the usual channel of 2 years of schooling after 10th, and 4 years of engineering degree through a university. Polytechnics follow the approach of more of practical exposure than theoretical knowledge. Because of which, the technical knowledge of a polytechnic student may be better in comparison to a student who has done Engineering after 12th class.
* Less competitive path to the Engineering courses.
* Provides self-employment opportunities.
* The project works of the courses provide practical work experience which can also be useful during the employment.
* Prime Minister Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS) for Polytechnic passout students for admission in B.Tech under lateral entry in 2nd year in various repute Engineering colleges outside J&K.
* Under various Scholarship Schemes of AICTE i.e PRAGATI for Girls, SAKSHAM for Disabled students and SWANATH for Orphans, students admitted in Polytechnics colleges of J&K get Rs 50,000/- per year. In addition to it there are various other Scholorship Schemes of J&K for SC, ST, OBC, Minority, Labour class etc to support the education of students.
It is always advisable to pursue further education or enhance your skills after completing the polytechnic course. One can choose either earning or continuing studies after attaining diploma of polytechnic. Those who choose to continue the studies can either get admission in B.Tech. or pursue engineering degree of AMIE which is equivalent to a bachelor degree (B.Tech.). It is easier for them to directly enrol in the 2nd year of the degree course at the university because of the foundation they already built through their course completed at the polytechnic.
Many students even opt for jobs immediately after their polytechnic course gets over, and pursue their degree course while working. So, basically they earn while they learn! Those who wish to earn have the opportunities to work as Junior Engineer, Service Engineer, Sub-Engineer, Technician etc in Government or Private Sector. The role and the field depends on the branch one take up. Machinery production companies like automobile and auto part production, Defense Industry, Electrical companies, Shipping industry, Rail Industry, Aviation related companies and Technology Centers are the major recruiters. The Government bodies like irrigation departments, Public Works Department, Power Development Department, Power Grid Department, Water supply, Railways, Transport Department, BHEL, HIL, BCPL, Communication services, etc recruit the Polytechnic Diploma students. Fashion designing, IT companies, ceramic companies, painting companies, mines, textile companies etc are the other fields.
Self-employment is the best opportunity in the field. One can start its own venture or enterprise, shall have a retail shop, repairing shop or be a contractor.
To order to cater the needs of technical manpower in India, Polytechnics are going to play an important role in the near future. So, the students should look at these institutes after 10th class for better technical knowledge and can also opt for degree after doing the diploma to enhance their qualification and fulfilling their dreams.
The author is Principal Government Polytechnic College Kathua (J&K)
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