World Bank approves USD 255.5 million loan for better tech education in govt-run institutions

The World Bank has approved a USD 255.5 million loan for improving the quality of technical education in government-run institutions in India.

Over the next five years, the project will support around 275 government-run technical institutions in selected states across the country, benefitting more than 350,000 students each year.

The Multidisciplinary Education and Research Improvement in Technical Education Project will support improving student skills and employability by focusing on better research, entrepreneurship, and innovation; and improve governance in technical institutions.

As part of the project, students will get access to upgraded curricula including emerging technologies in communication and climate resilience. 

They will also benefit from better internship and placement services, including opportunities to network with professional associations, World Bank said.

Tertiary education in India has been growing steadily from 29 million enrolled students in 2011-12 to 39 million enrolled students across 40,000 institutions in 2019-20.

While India's tertiary education sector is among the largest in the world, recent studies note increased gaps in both technical and non-technical skills such as reasoning, interpersonal communication, and conflict resolution, the World Bank said. 

The project will support participating institutions to organize outreach programmes providing prospective female students, parents, and guardians with more and better information on technical education programme options, build sensitivity to gender issues, and address misconceptions about women's capabilities in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields