Principal secretary of higher education department J S Saharia said on Saturday universities in Maharashtra have a very poor control over their affiliated engineering colleges. He also warned that if varsities do not revise the syllabus of engineering coilleges, half of them will have to be closed soon.

Saharia was speaking at a workshop organised in the city by directorate of technical education (DTE) in association with Vishwakarma Institute of Technology (VIT).

“It has been observed that universities in the state do not monitor engineering colleges properly. To ensure better quality, it is necessary that varsities exert better control over the colleges. It is the duty of varsities to see if the colleges are fulfilling the set norms,” he said.

The Supreme Court has directed to appoint fulltime principals on the vacant posts before May 31, 2010. It is the responsibility of the universities to ensure that the appointments are made,” Saharia said. He added once the DTE sets up key performance indicators, it will be necessary for the varsities to revise the syllabus by at least 20 per cent every year.

“At present, the colleges are teaching according to age-old syllabi. But henceforth universities will have to be on their toes and if they fail to make necessary changes as per industry requirements, half of the engineering colleges in the state will have to be closed down,” said Saharia.

He also defended the decision to amend Maharashtra Universities Act and set some academic criteria for elected and nominated members of the various governing bodies. His stand on the issue assumes significance as most of the college teachers and heads of educational institutes are up in arms against the amendment.

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