Itanagar: On February 17, 2010, Joram Begi, Higher and Technical Education Director, made the disclosure that Arunachal Pradesh (AP) stands at the bottom in gross enrolment ratio in higher education in comparison with that of the other states of the country. As per sources, the revelation was made in the tenth two-day conference-cum-workshop of the department commencing on Wednesday.
Dr Begi said that the enrolment ratio of the state stood at seven against the national average of 12.4. The major obstacle in improving the figure was resource crisis. He mentioned that out of 16 districts, higher education was concentrated only in eight districts with the state having one university, one deemed university (Technical), 16 degree colleges (ten government and six private), four professional and technical colleges, besides two polytechnics.
Further, Dr Begi, while elaborating on various Central schemes, informed that the state was eligible for 14 modern colleges and one polytechnic in each district for which time had come for the government to act upon. He added that for the establishment of 14 new colleges the Central government will provide 50 per cent fund, while amount of Rs 12.4 crore will be provided for each polytechnics.
The state government should provide land for setting up these technical institutions and should ensure proper maintenance of the assets, he added. He said skilled manpower development was the need of the hour for the state which was not possible without improvement in the higher and technical education sector.
