Punjab CM Amarinder Singh gives go-ahead to 19 new ITIs

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, April 19 

To upgrade the existing technical education ecosystem in the state, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday gave the go-ahead for 19 new ITIs, including one in Beas, with classes to be commenced in the forthcoming session.

Chairing a high-level department review meeting here this evening, the chief minister also okayed upgradation of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Institute of Skills (as a consequent college of IKG PTU, Kapurthala) into Sri Guru Gobind Singh Skill University from the 2021-22 session.

Capt Amarinder Singh also approved the department proposal to revive Baba Hira Singh Bhathal Institute of Engineering and Technology, Lehragaga.

Construction of 16 ITIs is already in progress, while PWD has floated tenders for two.

While 16 of the 19 ITIs will be constructed by PWD, three will be built by Punjab Police Housing Corporation (PPHC).

The Finance Department has given approval for the creation of necessary posts for these ITIs.

On the occasion, the chief minister also launched a dedicated mobile app e-ITI Punjab which would provide a single source of training/study material to facilitate the trainees and faculty.

Developed by the department, the application is a complete package for online training and encompasses a digital library with 66 e-books, 700 lectures as PPT presentation, 900 videos of lectures, 500 videos of practical demonstrations and question bank with 30,000 questions to support the students in online education.

In another decision, the chief minister asked the department to fast-track the process of admission into Shaheed Bhagat Singh State Technical Campus, Ferozepur and Beant College of Engineering and Technology, Gurdaspur from July 2021 onwards.

Both these institutes have been upgraded to campus/non affiliating universities.

During the meeting, the chief minister was apprised of various steps and expansion initiatives launched by the Technical Education Department, including 60 per cent increase in seats of ITIs to 37,996 from a stagnated level of around 23,000 over the last ten years.

In order to make the training of students more industry-relevant, a Dual System of Training (DST) has been introduced in the ITIs in collaboration with the industry.

Under this system, the students get theoretical training for six months in an ITI and go to industry for practical training of six months. As a result, this year, 413 units will be run under DST and more than 8,500 students will benefit.

The department has tied up with several reputed industries like Hero Cycles, Trident Ltd., Avon Cycles, Swaraj Engine Ltd., Mahindra & Mahindra, Federal Mogul Patiala, Godrej & Boyce Ltd. Mohali, International Tractors Ltd. (Sonalika) Hoshiarpur, NFL Bathinda & Nangal, Nestle India Ltd. Moga, Hero Eutectic Industry Ludhiana, Punjab Alkalies & Chemicals Ltd. Nangal, Hotel Hyatt, Hotel Taj etc, the chief minister was informed.

Further, over the last 15 months, about half of the courses which were affiliated with the State Council for Vocational Training (SCVT) have been upgraded and affiliated with the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET).

These NCVET certificates are recognised not only in India but also in 160 countries around the world. In the year 2018, only 12,750 students got NCVET certificate in 606 NCVT units, while in this session, 33,635 students will get NCVET certificate in 1,597 NCVT units – an increase of more than 160 per cent.

Besides, the department has translated books of 16 different trades of the Government of India into Punjabi and the work of translating about 25 different trades into Punjabi is in progress.

At the same time, the state has sent more than 25,000 questions to DGT in Punjabi language for inclusion in the question bank.

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