Andhra plans '21st century Gurukuls' for rural students

The Andhra Pradesh government is planning to set up ten pre-Master of Science in Information Technology (Pre-MSIT) centres across the state from this year. The move is aimed to provide an opportunity to rural students to compete with their urban counterparts in civil services and other competitive exams.

Termed as '21st century Gurukul', and conceived by Carnegie Mellon University professor Raj Reddy, the centres would offer one year course to all the graduates, both technical and non-technical, along with a placement offer.

Chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, who discussed the new concept with academicians including the vice-chancellors of the state universities here today, directed the officials to ensure admission to at least two candidates, essentially belonging to rural areas from each mandal.

The ten centres, which will have an intake of 2,500 candidates, will be opened in all the existing ten universities in the state. Similar centres would be set up for each district in due course. After the completion of the course, students would be encouraged to appear for civil services, state services, GATE, GRE, and other competitive exams, which would facilitate entry into IITs and IIMs.

The Andhra Pradesh State Council for Higher Education (APSCHE) would arrange Rs 1 lakh to each candidate towards course fee through banks. It would reimburse the same in the case of a student failing to get placement with an annual pay package of Rs 3 lakh after the completion of higher studies. The first four-months of the teaching at these centres would be common to all and subsequently the candidates will have to opt for the areas of their interest, according to a press release.