Methodology for planning technical education, with a case study of polytechnics in Bangladesh

IT INCLUDES A BRIEF DISCUSSION OF THE POLYTECHNICAL EDUCATION SYSTEM IN BANGLADESH AS OF 1970. THE CHAPTERS DISCUSS EFFICIENCY IN RESOURCE ALLOCATION, STUDENT FLOWS AND STOCKS OF GRADUATES, COSTS AND FINANCING OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT AND EARNINGS OF GRADUATES, A DECISION MODEL FOR PLANNING TECHNICAL EDUCATION, AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECISION MODEL. THE APPENDIX ON BANGLADESH POLYTECHNICS IS BASED ON DATA NO MORE RECENT THAN 1970. SOME OF THE POINTS MADE: THE FIRST POLYTECHNIC DIPLOMA PROGRAM WAS FOUNDED IN DACCA IN 1955. AFTER 1962, SEVERAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTES WERE UPGRADED TO DIPLOMA-ISSUING OLYTECHNICS, AND NEW POLYTECHNICS WERE ESTABLISHED. BY 1970 THEY WERE GRADUATING A TOTAL OF ABOUT 1,000 DIPLOMA-LEVEL CIVIL, ELECTRICAL, MECHANICAL, OR POWER ENGINEERS (DLE"S). THE GAP BETWEEN THE TRAINING OBJECTIVES AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, PRESENT FROM THE BEGINNING, IS WIDENING. THE FOREIGN-INFLUENCED, RESEARCH-ORIENTED CURRICULA BEAR LITTLE RELEVANCE TO INDUSTRIAL NEEDS. INITIAL UNEMPLOYMENT OF DLE"S IS HIGH; MOST ENTER GOVERNMENT POSITIONS. THE 18 EXISTING (C. 1970) POLYTECHNICS ARE CENTRALLY ORGANIZED, FUNDED, AND DIRECTED BY THE GOVERNMENT DIRECTORATE OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION. AS OF 1970, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF DLE"S WAS 5,000, COMPARED TO 2,700 DEGREE ENGINEERS AND 12,500 CERTIFICATE HOLDERS.