The Telangana government has decided to keep government polytechnics under the Education department.
This reverses an earlier move to merge them with Young India Skills University (YISU).
The order was issued on Friday by Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju.
It came after students and faculty members protested for more than a month.
Key points
- Government polytechnics will stay under the Education department.
- The order was issued on Friday by Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju.
- The decision follows recommendations from a high-level committee.
- Students had protested for about 35 days against the merger.
So what was the earlier plan?
Earlier, polytechnics were moved from the Education department to YISU.
YISU was set up as a public-private partnership under the Shakti department, which was earlier called the Labour department.
Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and Advanced Technology Centres (ATCs) were also merged with YISU at that time.
Under the new order, ITIs and ATCs will operate under the Shakti department, while YISU will regulate their curriculum.
Why did students and teachers protest?
Teachers said their pay scales, cadres and promotion levels were entirely different from those of the university.
They also said AICTE pay scales applied to them.
Students feared they would be reduced to the status of labourers.
They were also worried they might not be able to join engineering degree courses through lateral entry via ECET.
Some students feared that the university could sharply raise tuition fees.
This worry was linked to the university's framework under YISU.
What happens next for the institutes?
YISU has been asked to get the required approvals from the AICTE and other competent authorities.
- 1Polytechnics stay with EducationGovernment polytechnics return to the Education department, per the order issued Friday by Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju.
- 2ITIs and ATCs move to ShaktiIndustrial Training Institutes and Advanced Technology Centres will operate under the Shakti department.
- 3YISU regulates curriculumYoung India Skills University will regulate the curriculum of the ITIs and ATCs.
- 4YISU seeks AICTE approvalsYISU has been asked to get the required approvals from the AICTE and other competent authorities to expand its programmes.
Graphic: News Anek, from the facts in this report
These approvals are needed for expanding its academic programmes.
The committee headed by K Keshava Rao had held several meetings with protesting representatives and students before the state reached this decision.
Explainer
What happened before
- The state earlier moved government polytechnics from the Education department to Young India Skills University, which was set up as a public-private partnership under the Shakti department.
- Polytechnics, along with ITIs and ATCs, were then merged with YISU, and this led to protests by teachers and students.
Why it matters
Students and teachers were worried about their future, pay and career paths, so the decision affects thousands of people studying and working in these institutes.
What to watch next
- YISU has been asked to get the necessary approvals from the AICTE and other authorities to expand its academic programmes.
