AICTE to allow tech education in distance mode from 2013

The All India Council for Technical Education is set to allow technical education in distance learning mode from 2013.

Human Resources Development (HRD) Minister M M Pallam Raju made an announcement to this effect here on Friday. “A move is on to bring distance education in the country under a proper regulatory frame work and the AICTE will come up with a set of guidelines to conduct technical education in this mode by March next year,” he said.

“A regulatory frame work is being worked out to allow technical education in distance education mode for the first time in the country from next year. Students will be able to pursue courses in all technical subjects, except architecture and pharmacy,” AICTE chairman S S Mantha said.

The courses in technical education, however, will not be available to freshers. “A student will be eligible for a BTech course in distance education mode only if he or she has done a diploma in technical subjects from any institution, like the polytechnics. Similarly, a student will be eligible for MTech, if he has done BTech from a regular engineering college,” Mantha said.

This apart, candidates will require a few years of professional experience in their respective fields to apply for the technical courses. A national-level test will be conducted for enrolment, he said. “We are finalising the details.” 

“Students of distance education will not face any problem in getting jobs as their diplomas or degrees will have the same value as those acquired after undergoing courses in educational institutions,” a HRD Ministry official said.