College of Engineering and Technology in Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar, Dec. 18: The College of Engineering and Technology here has started special classes for slow learners under the World Bank-sponsored Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme (Teqip).

About 15 per cent of the 960 students at the college are being trained not only in the subjects they are weak in, but also in communication skills.

“We pick up the worst performing students from the university result sheet. These students are organised into various groups depending on the subjects they are weak in. Accordingly, special classes are provided to them after regular class hours,” said in charge of Teqip at the college Prashant Kumar Patra.

At least 20 classes have been organised this year, he added. Apart from subject classes, students are given special lessons in advanced application software.

“Many of our students are from rural areas, including those from the SC and ST category who did not have the privilege of getting good education such as their private school counterparts. These students, although good in studies, are relatively poorer in soft skills. This affects their employment prospects,” said college principal S.P. Mohanty.

“We have organised special classes in communication and spoken English that help them develop their personality and group discussion skills,” he added.

This apart, faculty members from premier institutes such as the IITs are being invited to the campus to take classes for students who are facing trouble in understanding particular chapters and lessons. Feedback forms collected from students suggested that the classes have immensely benefited them.

The classes are updated on the World Bank site and monitored by their officials on a regular basis, said an official.

CET was approved funds worth Rs 10 crore from the Teqip in April 2012.

Besides the special classes, the Teqip funds were utilised for conducting seminars and workshops, launching MTech and PhD programmes this year besides introducing coaching classes for national-level entrance and competitive exams.