Team Goemkarponn
Sankhali: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday expressed serious concern over the rising number of vacant engineering seats in Goa, holding teachers responsible for not guiding students towards competitive examinations and career choices.
Sawant said that in the past two to four years, nearly 30 per cent of engineering seats in the state have gone unfilled. “I am not blaming students or parents. It is the duty of teachers to guide students and make them aware of these entrance exams. If students don’t know about JEE or NEET, then teachers are responsible,” the Chief Minister said.
He pointed out that despite 50 per cent of seats being reserved for Goan students in IITs and NITs, there were hardly any takers. “I don’t understand why these seats are going vacant,” Sawant added.
To address the gap, the Directorate of Technical Education (DTE) will, from the next academic year, establish a special cell to mentor students for JEE and NEET entrance examinations.
Sawant also urged students not to restrict themselves only to engineering and medicine, highlighting that the state has created new institutions such as the All India Institute of Forensic Sciences, International College of Law and the National Institute of Water Sports, which offer a wide range of career opportunities.
