Reforms in Engineering Education: Minister Nara Lokesh’s Key Directives
State Minister for Education, IT, and Electronics, Nara Lokesh, has emphasized the need for engineering college managements to focus on improving educational quality. Representatives of the Engineering Colleges Management Association met the minister today at his Undavalli residence, bringing various issues to his attention.
Speaking on the occasion, Nara Lokesh stated that negligence by previous administrations had weakened the education system, and his government is committed to bringing about transformation from the primary level. He noted that the intermediate education sector had seen no reforms for the past ten years, but since assuming office as the Human Resource Development Minister, he has initiated necessary changes.
The minister stressed the importance of introducing ethical values into the education system and assured that any errors in the implementation of reforms would be rectified. He reiterated that his government does not make unilateral decisions and that all policy changes would be made through discussions and consultations.
Regarding financial assistance, Nara Lokesh stated that in the first phase of the Reimbursement of Tuition Fees (RTF) scholarship scheme, ₹571.96 crore has already been released out of the allotted ₹788 crore, with the remaining ₹216.04 crore to be disbursed within the next two to three days.
He urged engineering colleges to focus on National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) rankings, research and development (R&D), and innovations. Additionally, he directed colleges to provide regular online updates on student placements to the government. Plans are underway to introduce further reforms in the education sector, and after the conclusion of the MLC election code, a one-day workshop will be organized to gather suggestions on improving the quality of engineering education.
Representatives of the engineering colleges highlighted the need for timely disbursement of fee reimbursement funds in accordance with a fixed calendar. They also pointed out that the current fee structure is not viable and requested revisions. They urged the government to start working on these changes in advance.
They further requested the release of the Engineering, Agriculture, and Medical Common Entrance Test (EAMCET) schedule on time and called for the implementation of a three-round counseling system for admissions. Additionally, they sought government intervention in facilitating student placements by organizing state-level job fairs and bringing companies to universities for recruitment drives.
Regarding student attendance, the representatives suggested that implementing an attendance-based weightage system could yield positive results by motivating students and increasing participation rates.
They also proposed reviving the National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research (NITTTR) in the state and, if possible, establishing three such centers to provide training programs for faculty members. Additionally, they recommended implementing micro-certifications under the National Credit and Qualifications Framework (NCQF) to enhance academic standards.
