The state of engineering education in Gujarat has come under scrutiny once again as it was revealed that 1,004 sanctioned posts are lying vacant in 16 government engineering colleges, including the LD Engineering College in Ahmedabad. This revelation was made by the government in the Gujarat Assembly on Monday. According to the data tabled by the government in response to a question by Congress MLA Shailesh Parmar, as of December 31, 2022, 36% of the 2,744 sanctioned positions were unfilled across these colleges. The data also indicates that 57.6% of Class-1 posts (308), 12.8% of Class-2 posts (189), 64.8% of Class-3 posts (310), and 74% of Class-4 posts (197) remain vacant.
The high number of vacancies in these engineering colleges has raised concerns about the quality of education being provided to students and the impact on their future employability. It has also led to questions about the state government’s commitment to promoting technical education in Gujarat. The government’s response to this issue remains to be seen, but it is clear that urgent action is required to address this situation and ensure that engineering education in Gujarat is on par with other states in the country.
LD Engineering College, a renowned institution that was established in June 1948, has the highest number of vacancies among the 16 government engineering colleges in Gujarat. As per the data tabled by the government in response to a question in the Gujarat Assembly, LD Engineering College has 211 vacant positions, which make up 39.2% of the total 537 sanctioned posts in the college. This significant number of vacancies in such a prestigious institution is a cause for concern and highlights the need for urgent action to be taken to address the issue of staff shortages in engineering colleges in Gujarat. The impact of these vacancies on the quality of education and future employability of students cannot be ignored, and the state government must take appropriate steps to fill these vacancies and ensure that students receive the education and training they need to succeed in their careers.
The staff shortage in Gujarat’s engineering colleges is most acute in the LE College in Morbi, where 60.5% of the total 315 posts are vacant, making it the second-highest after LD Engineering College. Additionally, government engineering colleges in Bhuj, Modasa, and Patan have more than 40% of their total positions vacant, further exacerbating the issue of understaffing in these institutions.
In a surprising development, the Godhra engineering college is the only one among the 16 government engineering colleges in Gujarat where the number of posts filled exceeds the number of sanctioned posts. The college has 107% of the posts filled, with 56 people holding jobs in the 52 available positions. Even in the Class-2 cadre, where 28 positions were available, 44 posts have been filled, indicating a remarkable level of efficiency in recruitment and staff management.
The Gujarat government has attributed the high number of vacancies in engineering colleges to various factors such as voluntary retirement, staff resignations, promotions, shifting to other jobs, and unfortunate incidents like deaths. However, the government has not provided any reasons for the anomaly in Godhra engineering college where there are more posts filled than sanctioned.
Overall, the issue of staff shortages in engineering colleges in Gujarat remains a matter of concern, as it has a direct impact on the quality of education and the employability of students. While the government has cited some reasons for the vacancies, it is crucial to take urgent steps to fill these positions and ensure that students receive the education and training they need to succeed in their careers.
Unfilled Seats
In response to a question posed by Parmar, the Gujarat government disclosed that there has been a 27% surge in the number of vacant engineering seats across government, grant-in-aid, and self-financed colleges in the state. The data revealed that while 30,829 seats were left unfilled during the academic year 2021-2022, the figure has now ballooned to 39,360 seats for the current year 2022-23.
This significant increase in vacant seats has raised concerns about the quality of education and the employability of students graduating from these institutions. It is important to address the root causes of this problem, such as the shortage of teaching staff and inadequate facilities, to ensure that students receive the best possible education and training that prepares them for a successful career. The government must take urgent steps to bridge the gap and make Gujarat’s engineering colleges more attractive to aspiring students.
The staggering number of vacant seats in engineering colleges in Gujarat is a worrying trend that could have severe implications for the state’s education system and economy. According to the government’s latest data, there are a total of 69,410 engineering degree seats in the state’s government, grant-in-aid, and self-financed colleges.
Despite the significant number of available seats, the number of vacant seats in self-financed colleges continues to increase, with 34,071 vacant seats in 2022-23. The government has attributed this problem to the inability of colleges to attract qualified students in time to fill up the seats. This situation is a cause for concern as it could lead to a decrease in the quality of education offered by these institutions. Furthermore, the rise in vacant seats may discourage students from pursuing engineering courses, leading to a shortage of skilled professionals in the workforce.
It is imperative that the state government and colleges take swift action to address this issue. They must work together to improve the quality of education and facilities offered in these institutions and take steps to attract more qualified students to fill the vacant seats. Only then can we ensure that Gujarat’s engineering colleges remain relevant and continue to produce skilled professionals for the future.
For more college news click here.
