Students’ body supports demonstrations against polytechnic merger with SHAKTI

Hyderabad Support for demonstrating students of ITIs continued to pour in with the Students Islamic Organisation (SIO) opposing the proposed restructuring of polytechnics and aligning it with the SHAKTI framework“Technical education reforms must expand opportunities for students, not weaken their access to higher education. The concerns surrounding B.Tech lateral entry and the future academic progression of polytechnic students need clear assurance and protection,” the SIO stated on Friday. The organisation underscored that the proposed restructuring has created fears that affordable technical education can get affected. They underscored that a fee hike or commercial use of public educational infrastructure will tend to make technical education less accessible, especially to students who come from weaker, underserved sections of society. The student body expressed alarm over the possibility of the government trying to move ITIs into the ambit of public-private partnership with the Young India Skills University entering the picture. “Technical education should not become increasingly privatised, with public institutions and infrastructure being treated primarily as avenues for commercial activity,” it added.