AICTE to shut 800 engineering colleges from next academic year

Bengaluru: The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) is likely to shut nearly 800 engineering colleges across the country from the next academic year. The decision is believed to have been taken owing to a low rate of admissions and poor infrastructure.

After observing the colleges, AICTE has asked the respective authorities to submit a report by mid-September. The colleges with below 30 per cent admission in the last five years will be bound to either close down or merge with another nearby college.

There are nearly 10,361 engineering colleges across India, the maximum number of which is in Maharashtra followed by Tamil Nadu. Uttar Pradesh ranks third in the total number of colleges while Andhra Pradesh stands at fourth.

Some of the colleges have sought a time of one year from the council to improve the number of enrollment, reported NDTV.

With a view to improving the education quality, AICTE is expected to introduce six-month teachers training for the faculties who would be employed at the engineering colleges. The council has also put a mandate Industry Internship for second and third-year students.