Technical colleges reopen for in-person classes, students back in small groups

Concerns over lack of training and employability prompt move

A class at the Regional Institute of Printing Technology in Jadavpur on Thursday. Picture by Gautam Bose

SUBHANKAR CHOWDHURY | TT  |  03.09.21: A concern over the absence of hands-on training, which is raising questions about the employability of students, has prompted the state government to reopen polytechnic colleges and industrial training institutes.

The colleges, which had shut its campuses in March 2020 following the outbreak of Covid-19, have been opening its doors for in-person classes every alternate working day since Monday.

Students at two of the institutes — Regional Institute of Printing Technology and APC Roy Polytechnic College, both in Jadavpur — said they were relieved to attend practical classes because the absence of hands-on training, a fallout of the pandemic, was affecting their employability.

Humayun Kabir, the minister of state with independent charge in the technical education, training and skill development department, said they had reopened the 185 polytechnic colleges and 282 ITIs so the students could attend practical classes.

Care has been taken, he said, to ensure that the Covid-19 protocol is strictly enforced on all campuses.

Regional Institute of Printing Technology, off Jadavpur University, has split the classes into smaller batches to avoid crowding. On Thursday afternoon, only six students attended a practical class in photography.

One of the students, Rwik Ghosh, a resident of Dakshineswar, said they were staring at a bleak future without the practical classes.

“I believe this (practicals) will make us employable. Recently, we read that a private bank had announced that 2021 graduates were not eligible to apply. It seems at least some employers think that students have not learnt anything in the pandemic year in the absence of in-person classes. The reopening of the institute for practicals has brought us relief,” said Ghosh.

The private bank Ghosh was referring to had mentioned the condition in an advertisement in June for jobs in Madurai, Tamil Nadu.

Srinanda Chanda, who came from Sodepur, said: “When we enter the jobs after passing out, we won’t be able to survive in the absence of the practical classes. Without practicals, our employability would be doubted”.

“The condition was withdrawn following an outcry, but the advertisement has struck fear among students, especially those enrolled in technical courses,” said Haroprosad Mondal, the officer-in-charge of the regional college.

He said theory classes were being held, too, by adhering to all Covid safety measures.

“Practicals are the essence of the three courses we run. We are holding classes in small batches on different days to avoid large gatherings,” he said.

Since this is a regional college, half the seats are reserved for students from outside Bengal. Outstation students have not been called back since the hostels are yet to reopen.

“Our hostels are on the JU campus. We have written to the university seeking permission to reopen the hostels,” said Mondal.