Polytechnics can provide skilled workforce: Sibal

Speaking at the second national convention of State Boards of Technical Education on `Polytechnic Education and Achievements and Challenges Ahead' here, Sibal said polytechnics should form tie-ups with the industry to upgrade the syllabus.

"We can get skilled workforce from polytechnic institutes as they are the future of our country," the Minister said.

Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh were doing well with regard to polytechnic education, he said.

"In Bihar, there are 12 government polytechnics and seven unaided institutions. Whereas in Uttar Pradesh, there are 17 government and 186 unaided polytechnics. Compared to the population of these two states, the number is much low," he said.

The students who had had their schooling in mediums other than English should be given study material in their own language, he said.