However, students in the State have lost interest in pursuing various courses in polytechnic colleges and the admissions to these institutions have drastically declined during the last three years.

A statistics from the Higher Education Department, available with DT Next, revealed that in 2017-18, the number of students who were admitted to polytechnic courses was 1.13 lakh. However, the number dropped to about 80,000 in 2019-20, thus registering a reduction of more than 30,000 students.

In 2018-19 the number of students admitted to the polytechnic colleges was 1,04,220. At present, there are about 500 polytechnic college,s including 51 government and 34 government-aided institutions, functioning across the State.

The statistics further said that the number of admissions has reduced over the years among both boys and girls. Accordingly, in 2017-18, the number of boys freshly admitted to polytechnic colleges across the State was 1,02,391, which was reduced to 94,204 in 2018-19. In 2019-20 the enrollment of boys further plunged to 80,320.

Similarly, 11,063 girls enrolled in various polytechnic institutions in 2017-18. But it reduced to 10,016 in 2018-19. However, admission of female candidates went further down to 7,495 in 2019-20.

A senior official from the Directorate of Technical Education (DoTE), seeking anonymity, said students pursue polytechnic courses after completing Class 10 or 12 to take up their careers in the field of engineering.

"Soon after the successful completion of course, most candidates would be hired in construction, manufacturing, electrical or communication organisations," he said. About the fall in admissions, the official pointed out that many companies have stopped hiring polytechnic students at the campus level and that was also one of the reasons. "The syllabus has to revamped completely to meet the latest requirements, which would produce more jobs," said S Vigneshwaran, an office-bearer of TN Polytechnic Faculty Forum, said. According to him, more practical training should also be included in the courses so that students could confidently be placed in good organisations.