Shillong, Oct 8: Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui on Thursday urged polytechnics in Meghalaya to realign courses with emerging technologies to ensure employability.
Speaking at the concluding programme of the Diamond Jubilee celebration of Shillong Polytechnic on the theme ‘Vocationalizing the Future’, Rymbui asked whether automobile students are being trained to repair electric vehicles and whether electrical students have knowledge of solar and wind energy systems.
He called for tie-ups with automobile firms, renewable energy agencies and cement factories in East Jaintia Hills for hands-on training and suggested sanctioning funds instead of posts for new polytechnics so that faculty and experts can be engaged as per requirement.
Noting that Shillong Polytechnic has produced over 10,000 graduates in 60 years, many of whom became Chief Engineers and Heads of Departments, Rymbui said its success led to the establishment of Shillong Engineering College and the College of Architecture and Urban Planning.
He informed that four polytechnics are functional in the state and three more are coming up, adding that out-of-the-box thinking is needed to make technical education future-ready.
Mawlai MLA Brightstarwell Marbaniang, Director of Higher and Technical Education HDB Sangma and others attended the programme, which also saw the release of the Diamond Jubilee Souvenir 1965-2026.
