Question : IT TEACHER-STUDENT RATIO

(a) whether it is a fact that IT teacher-student ratio at present stand 1:45;

(b) if so, whether it is also a fact that it should be 1:15 per the AICTE norms;

(c) if so, the current shortage of teacher and likely to increase by year the 2003;

(d) whether any concerted efforts have been made by his Ministry in consultation with the HRD Ministry to meet the gap to teacher- student ratio in the IT sector; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and further steps taken or being taken by the Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS(SHRI PRAMOD MAHAJAN)

(a),(b) and (c): As per the norms and standards prescribed by AICTE, the teacher-student ratio for all the technical courses including IT related courses is 1:15. While monitoring the maintenance of norms and standards in technical institutions imparting IT related courses in the country, it has been found that there is a paucity of teachers in IT related courses. The estimated shortage of teachers in such disciplines is around 25% and the shortage is mainly at senior faculty level. However, it is difficult to ascertain exact ratio, since availability of teachers in IT is increasing day by day.

(d): AICTE has taken several steps to reduce the teacher-student ratio in technical institutions, such as:-

i) Early Faculty Induction Programme (EFIP) has been started to encourage the fresh graduates to take up teaching profession in technical institutions.

ii) Institutions are encouraged to start Post-Graduate Programmes to provide eligible teachers to the technical institutions.

iii) Pay scales have been revised for the teachers in technical institutions based on the recommendations of the Vth pay commission to attract and retain the qualified professionals in teaching profession.