GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH INTERMEDIATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
FOUR MEMBER COMMITTEE REPORT ON PARA MEDICAL VOCATIONAL COURSES AT + 2 LEVEL IN ANDHRA PRADESH
Andhra Pradesh is one of the leading states in introducing 10 + 2 + 3 pattern of education in India. Vocational courses at + 2 level were introduced in the state from the academic year 1979-80 as a state scheme. In pursuance of the National Education policy 1986 Government of India extended Central assistance to implement Vocationalisation of secondary education from 1987 - 88. A National level apex body on vocational education namely PSSCIVE, Bhopal was created and is functioning under the Ministry of Human Resources Development. In Andhra Pradesh vocational courses were expanded from 1987-88 covering the fields of Engineering and Technology, Agriculture, Health and Para Medical, Home Science, Business and Commerce and Humanities and others. In Andhra Pradesh State Institute of Vocational Education (SIVE) was formulated in the Olo. Directorate of Intermediate Education to provide academic support and to monitor and coordinate the vocational courses and its activities in the state. For policy formulation and coordination State Council of Vocational Education (SCVE) under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary at state level and District Vocational Education committees (DVECs) under the chairmanship of the concerned District Collectors are constituted in addition to the school advisory committees at college level.
Board of Intermediate Education in Andhra Pradesh with the cooperation of SIVE is implementing the curriculum and affiliating the colleges offering vocational courses after satisfying the feasibility of such courses and conducting the annual examinations to vocational students and issuing certificates to successful candidates at + 2 level Intermediate course. The curriculum is revised from time to time in tune with the latest trends and developments in the concerned field. The PSSCIVE and SIVE are coordinating in the conduct of training programmes to the faculty in the concerned subjects. The District Vocational Education Officers and Regional Inspection Officers are monitoring and supervising the functioning of the various vocational courses including Para Medical vocational courses offered at Intermediate level in various districts of the state.
The following Para Medical courses are offered at Intermediate level as part of the vocational education in Andhra Pradesh. The affiliation, testing evaluation and certification for such Para Medical vocational courses at + 2 level was done by Board of Intermediate Education, Andhra Pradesh.
01. Multi Purpose Health Worker (Female) i.e MPHW
02. Medical Lab Technician i.e M.LT
03. Physio Therapy i.e PT
04. Ophthalmic Technician i.e O.T
05. X-Ray Technician ie XRT
06. Dental Technician i.e D.T
07. Dental Hygienist i.e D.H
The Dental Hygienist, Dental Technician, Medical Lab Assistant courses were recognized for appointment as Dental Hygienist, Dental Technician. Laboratory attendant under Medical Education of Government of Andhra Pradesh vide G.O.Ms.No.428 Edn. (1.E-II) Department dated 23-09-1985. Presently the Dental Hygienist and Dental Technician courses are run only at City Junior College, Hyderabad and are attached to Osmania Dental College and are recognized by Dental Council of India. The MPHW (F) course pass outs of + 2 level were allowed in the selection process of ANM/MPHA(F) course of Health Medical and Family Welfare department in G.O.Rt.No. 1377 dated 20-10-2006 and GO.Rt. No. 152 dated 05-02-2007 of Health Medical and Family Welfare (D1) Department. The issue of recognizing Para Medical courses being conducted by the Department of Intermediate Education has been engaging the attention of the Government for some time. The Government issued G.O.Rt.No.273 Health, Medical and Family Welfare (K2) Department dated 05-03-2007 and the Commissioner of Intermediate Education issued orders in Procs. Rc.No.Voc.-11 37788/6 dated 24-03-2007 appointing four member committee to recommend about specific steps relating to recognition, equivalence, affiliation, Admission procedures curriculum, training methodologies and linkages relating to Para Medical vocational courses offered at + 2 level. The four members in the committee are
01. Convener
Sri K.V.V.Satyanarayana, Additional Director, Intermediate Education, Hyderabad
02 Member
Sri K.R.K. Prasad, M.D., D.C.P., Professor, Gandhi Medical College, Hyderabad
03 Member
Dr. V.V.Sastry, MD, Professor, SPM, Gandhi Medical College, Hyderabad
04. Member
Sri D. Nageswara Rao, Joint Secretary (vocational). Board of Intermediate Education, Hyderabad
The four member committee met several times and discussed various issues relating to the ParaMedical vocational courses at + 2 level and visited a number of Junior Colleges in various districts of the state and observed the facilities like infrastructure, labs, staff etc. The curriculum of various courses is also verified and compared with the curriculum of Para Medical courses run under Medical Education and or designed by various councils/Para Medical Boards. The Intermediate ParaMedical vocational courses are run in Junior Colleges under various managements like Government Aided/ Social Welfare, Private Un aided and cooperative sectors. While the vocational courses are run in 998 Junior Colleges the Para Medical courses are functioning in more than 500 Colleges. The total number of students who appeared for IPE March, 2007 are 69,852 i.e 42,018 for first year and 27,834 for second year, in various vocational courses. Out of them the number of students who appeared for Para Medical vocational courses are 22,728 ie 12,831 for first year and 9,897 for second year during Intermediate Public Examinations, March, 2007. The Health Department is also conducting various Para Medical certificate/diploma courses in 989 Colleges and the total strength in those courses during 2006-07 is 4900 per year.
The growth process needed should include and expand good quality employment which ensures access to the essential services such as health and education for all sections of the community. In view of the size of the population of India and the growing awareness of health among people, a large demand occurred for people having ParaMedical skills that is large scale gape between demand and supply. It emphasizes much emphasis focus and attention on health education to cater to the needs of the society. The greater impetus to liberalization privatization and globalization emphasize the attention on service sectors like Medical, Health and Education. The rural and remote areas are suffering without proper medical care and with shortage of health workers. All such aspects emphasize the need for expansion of Para Medical courses with proper surveillance over the quality of the personnel produced/trained. The committee members independently visited various districts assisted by the district officers and covered around 64 colleges in the state. The observations are quite encouraging but need some stream lining of the system to improve the quality and efficiency of the institutes and pass outs. The committee recommended the following measures to provide equal status to the vocational Para Medical courses at + 2 level with that of the courses run under Department of Medical Education and to get acceptance by the concerned Para Medical Councils/Boards.
Curriculum- The + 2 level vocational Para Medical courses syllabus shall be restructured and designed both in theory and practicals and field work on par with the curriculum of similar Para Medical courses run under D.M.E/Other Para Medical councils. Particularly the MPHW(F) course shall be restructured immediately in the pattern of MPHW (F) run under D.M.E and in tune with the norms fixed by Indian Nursing Council with regard to Practicals and field/Hospital exposure. The Colleges offering Para Medical courses shall be attached to Government hospitals and other Nursing Homes to impart more field exposure The M.LT course syllabus shall be modified suitably with minor changes where ever required as the current curriculum of higher standard and may be reduced suitably. The same type of change in other courses like Physio Theoropy, Ophthalmic Technician and X-Ray Technician may be looked into. Such corporate health sector also can be permitted and started at + 2 level to take care of the growing needs of health supporting services.
HOSPITAL CUM FIELD EXPOSURE.
INSTITUTION AND HOSPITAL LINKAGE - The Para Medical vocational courses at + 2 level of Intermediate Education department in AP are having good curriculum and are having good market demand in the state. But the Colleges running such courses are not having sufficient tie-ups with the Nursing homes, hospitals and laboratories. It is also observed that the Government Hospitals were not fully permitted for usage by the students of such courses. Only where ever some dynamism and active interaction and initiative adjusted in the College administration only succeeded in sending their students to Government Hospitals for the On the Job Training practical training and in arranging clinical training. The Principals of the Colleges brought to the notice of the committee that most of the Government Hospital Superintendents are insisting for orders from the Director of Medical Education to allow the students for hospital exposure.
The DME, CVP and DFH shall take all necessary steps and shall issue suitable orders to the field level officials and to the Hospitals administrators under Government sector to permit the +2 level Para Medical vocational students for undergoing practical training, field work and On the Job Training in all Hospitals from P.H.Cs to speciality hospitals. The training and the practicals is part of the + 2 level course in both first and second years and shall be allowed on similar terms and conditions applicable to the students of Para Medical courses under D.M.E i.e on payment of Rs.500/- per year which is prevailing as on date as per G.O.Ms.No.314 Health Medical and Family Welfare (D2) Department, dated 16-08-1997. The various types of Hospitals and the + 2 level Colleges having Para Medical vocational courses shall be linked and tied-up to provide hospital and field exposure including practicals On the Job Training etc. A list of Institutions offering Para Medical Vocational courses tied-up with the hospitals and laboratories in the locality/area/vicinity is enclosed. The same may be considered and orders of approval from both the departments of Medical Education and Intermediate Education shall be issued simultaneously to run the courses systematically and on sound lines.
CLINICAL TRAINING - All the Para Medical courses shall be provided Hospital Training attendance during course period it self every day to sufficient extent as per curriculum norms and thereby this shall not he any disparity or further need for clinical Training/Apprenticeship to treat them on par with courses under Director of Medical Education/others. Even after completion of the course if the pass outs so desired they shall be permitted for clinical training for one year in the Government Hospitals on payment of Rs.1,000/- per year and a certificate about the training shall be awarded by the Superintendent of the concerned Government Hospitals.
APPRENTICESHIOP TRAINING - The Board of apprenticeship training (S.R) Chennai is providing Apprenticeship training for one year as per Government norms even to Para Medical courses Vocational pass outs at + 2 level Rs.1,090/- stiphend per month as per Government norms shall be paid to the pass outs allotted as per rules. 50% of the stiphend is reimbursed by Government of India to the concerned organizations. The facility shall be utilized by the state Government Hospitals which will enhance the availability of manpower with Government Hospitals. The financial burden is very meager to the state Government and it will benefit the pass outs in getting better field exposure for enriching their skills on one hand and will enhance the availability of skilled personnel in community health throughout the state on the other hand. As such the state Government shall promote this programme co sponsoring the Government of India scheme on high priority basis.
UTILISATION OF MEDICAL PERSONNEL SERVICES - The Commissioner of Intermediate Education and Board of Intermediate Education are requested to utilize the services of the personnel working under D.M.E in such Para Medical courses for Question paper setting, conduct of practicals, evaluation of Answer scripts, preparation/modification of curriculum etc. Such steps will enhance the credibility of the courses offered at + 2 level. This will be forerunner for achieving the target of equivalence.
CLEARANCE FROM VARIOUS PARA MEDICAL COUNCILS/BOARDS:- In the field of Medical Education various councils are functioning to monitor the standards and establishment and running of courses in the relevant areas. With regard to the Para Medical vocational courses offered at + 2 level various councils are to be consulted and obtained clearance for better employability and acceptability and to have legal sanctity to the courses offered and certificates issued. The details are noted below:
The National level councils are dealing the policy matters and state councils are simply transmitting the business to them and are acting as registering bodies. It is also to be noted that the MLT, O.T, P.T, X-RT courses are not under the purview of any National Para Medical or other Councils. Further at the state level very recently a Para Medical Board is constituted under the Chairmanship of Principal Secretary of Medical and Health and D.M.E as Secretary along with other members. To get recognition and equivalence for the + 2 level Para Medical Vocational courses the higher authorities like Principal Secretaries of Higher Education and Medical Education and Commissioner of Intermediate Education may visit New Delhi to interact and pursue the concerned Councils which are located in a single building. The newly constituted Para Medical board also should play a dynamic role in providing recognition and equivalence to + 2 Para Medical Vocational courses with similar courses under D.M Ełother courses run elsewhere. Suitable orders by the Government Department of Health Medical and Family Welfare Departments are to be issued about equivalence and eligibility for employment etc. In the absence of Recognition by the concerned Councils the pass outs are facing hardship in employability and Recognition out side the state and also in moving abroad with such certificates
STAFF - Sufficient number of qualified staff as per workload shall be sanctioned and appointed in various vocational Para Medical courses. They shall be trained suitably in regular intervals to cope-up with the changes in the concerned fields. The D.M.E shall co-operate to provide qualified staff from the Medical Education department on deputation or as guest lecturers to + 2 level Para Medical vocational courses. The experienced G.N.Ms also may be taken as staff in the absence of availability of qualified B.Sc Nursing candidates for MPHW courses Unqualified and ineligible staff shall not be allowed to handle the courses. Staff should also accompany the students during field trips and during hospital exposures. Other courses like M.LT, D.T, D.H, P.TOT, X-RT, Pharmaceutical Assistant etc., also must be provided with qualified personnel as staff. Due to the enhancement of intake capacity from 20 to 50 for each course/section there is need for revision of staff pattern. In addition to the existing pattern of two Junior Lecturers two more Teachers/Junior Lecturers shall be appointed for ech section in view of the increased workload due to increased number of practical batches and also accompany the students to field work and to hospitals. The contract faculty remuneration is not commensurate with the market conditions and qualifications of the staff and thereby the Intermediate Education department is not getting well qualified and experienced staff to handle such courses. The honororium is to be increased substantially on par with the rates in Medical Education Department immediately to attract qualified personnel as staff.
FEE STRUCTURE- The Intermediate Vocational fee structure prevailing at present as no relevance to the needs of the Para Medical Vocational courses. It is noted that only special fees of Rs.400/- is collected in Government Colleges where as an additional tution fee of Rs.4,500/- is fixed in private Unaided Colleges per year. These rates are not in tune with the Para Medical courses fee structure run under D.M.E. The fees structures of Para Medical courses at + 2 level are to be enhanced keeping in view of the courses run under D.M.E. In G.O.Ms.No.314 M.P.H.W(D2) Department dated 16-08-1997 rules and fee structure etc., for M.P.H.W(F) training schools were issued. The course fee is Rs.500/- per month per head for Government Quota seats and for management Quota seats an additional amount of Rs.2,000/- shall be permitted i.e., the total fee for year shall not exceed Rs.6,500/- per year to the extent each management Quota seat.
The maximum number of students to be admitted in a section of a College shall not exceed 50. The head of the Department is competent to increase on decrease the seats based on the infrastructure facilities, teaching staff, Lab equipment etc., of an Institution. In view of the fee structure in similar Para Medical courses under D.M.E, it is decided to fix the fee in Vocational Para Medical courses also as noted below to run the courses on sound lines.
Rs.4,500/- per head per year for Government Quota seats.
For Management Quota seats, the fee shall be Rs.6,500/- per head per year The Social Welfare Department/Government shall reimburse the fees in respect of management Quota seats to the extent of Rs.6,500/ per head per year in respect of eligible reserved categories as per in come limits in respect of those candidates who were admitted under Management Quota,
c) In addition to the fee fixed to the Government Quota seats/Management Quota seats, special fee for Para Medical courses students shall be levied as follows:
Rs.1,500/- as Laboratory fees.
The present special fee rate charged to vocational students on different heads shall also be continued.
Compulsory uniform to Para Medical course students as prescribed shall be insisted on the student should procure and wear as per the directions and the uniform shall be procured by the concerned individuals at the beginning of the course itself.
Transport charges shall be born by the individuals themselves on all occasions for travel to hospitals, O.J.Ts, field trips etc,
ADMISSIONS - Presently the admissions into Para Medical vocational courses at + 2 level are done at College level on parity with other courses as per rules. This system may be changed and admissions into Para Medical Courses shall be done at district level for all colleges in the district instead of at unit level. The admission schedule shall be issued by Commissioner of Intermediate Education/State Institute of Vocational Education through counseling system based on the marks/merit in the Qualifying exam or its equivalent. Rule of Reservtion and others as per B.IE Guidelines for admissions shall be implemented. For District level admission into the Colleges of the district an admission committee with the following members shall be constituted.
a) Joint Collector or his nominee as Chairman
b) D.V.E.O of the District as Convener cum member.
c) Superintendent of District Hospital or his nominee Doctor as Vice Chairman
Dy. Director (Social Welfare) as member.
Principal of the College concerned as member.
The total number of seats in Government and Aided sections are to be treated as Government Quota seats. With regard to Un Aided Quota seats i.e the balance 50% of seats shall be treated as Management Quota seats. The institution shall do the admission to management Quota seats and the selection committee checks the list of the students to be admitted by them. The total Government Quota seals are to be allotted by the selection committee
The admissions shall be completed as per the schedule declared Any grievances/appeals against the admissions made shall be appealed within a week for the last date of completion of admissions to the state committee comprising the following members.
Commissioner of Intermediate Education as Chairman
Additional Director, Ola, the C.I.E as Convener,
Joint Secretary(Voc), B.I.E as member
Convener, Para Medical courses, D.M.E as member
The state committee shall dispose such appeals within a fortnight after completion of the last date of the admission schedule.
INFRASTRUCTURE AND LABORATORY EQUIPMENT - It is observed that certain Colleges are having good infrastructure while others are not having sufficient accommodation. The same situation prevails with regard to lab equipment also. The maintenance of the accommodation and equipment is not up to the mark, Proper funds and budget are to be provided for such purpose Every ParaMedical vocational course shall be provided with two Class Rooms and one Laboratory Room. The Laboratory must have the latest equipment with provision for visuals and charts etc. The Recurring expenditure shall be provided adequately. Proper monitoring of the practicals . O.J.T conducted and field exposure shall be done
OTHERS:- Text Books both in English and Telugu media shall be provided adequately and reference books in sufficient number shall be kept with the library. Guest Lectures, visuals presentations, facilities for continuous training to the staff etc., are to be taken care of by the department. An academic body for Para Medical courses comprising the representatives of various sectors like Medical Education, Intermediate Education, Management Representatives, staff, Hospitals, Laboratories etc., may be constituted and annual/half yearly meetings may be convened to have interaction on various aspects of Para Medical courses. Career Guidance workshops and seminars shall be conducted at various places in the state to counsel the 10" class pass outs to popularize the courses and to create awareness among the public and students community for better and quality enrollment in the courses
Sri K.V.V.Satyanarayana Additional Director Intermediate Education, Hyderabad Convener
Professor KRK Prasad, Convener Para Medical courses, D.ME, Hyderabad and Professor, Gandhi Medical College, Hyderabad Member
Professor V.V.Sastry, MD, Professor, H.O.D of SPM, Gandhi Medical College, Hyderabad Member
Sri D. Nageswara Rao, Joint Secretary (vocational). Board of Intermediate Education, Hyderabad Member
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