Karnataka's DTE rope in lecturers for online classes to make up for shortage of teachers in polytechnic colleges

With the shortage of teachers in polytechnic colleges, the Department of Technical Education, Government of Karnataka, has introduced online classes to cover all the subjects and syllabus. The teachers of government polytechnic colleges have started taking online classes 10 hours a week for students across the state. Currently, 85 government and 41 aided polytechnic colleges are covered under this interactive programme and it will be extended to unaided colleges soon. 

This programme was introduced two years ago under the Central government’s Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme (TEQIP) where the lecturers can live stream from one of the online teaching centres. In August 2017,  these centres were launched in Bengaluru, Mysuru or Mangaluru.  HU Talwar, Director, Department of Technical Education said,  "The recruitment process takes at least two years to complete. The online interactive classes are a means to fill the gap in an innovative manner. We are attempting to cover all the subjects of the diploma curriculum."

He further added, "The department approached the government to start the recruitment process two years ago, but it has been delayed as amendments in the state cadre and recruitment rules must be compliant with the new rules of the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). Following the amendments, the department will approach the KPSC to conduct the recruitment examinations.  Until then, students can complete their studies through online classes."

There is an urgent need for lecturers to teach subjects including Maths and English classes and core engineering courses, said the department officials. The online interactive classes have been happening over the five semesters and 21 subjects are already being taught. Each semester, four subjects to the online curriculum.