Two-year diploma equal to inter proposed, can study further

A new opportunity being proposed for diploma students looks at helping them exit their course after two years and pursue other undergraduate course of their choice. Such students, after completing two years of their three-year diploma course, will be awarded a certificate in the domain concerned. For example, a student after successfully completing two years of diploma in automobile engineering will be awarded a certificate in automobile engineering for the period.

As per the proposal, such certificates will be equivalent to two-year Intermediate course certificates awarded by the Telangana State Board of Intermediate Education. Such an equivalency will allow students to pursue undergraduate education in conventional streams like BSc, B Com, BA, BBA etc., and also professional programmes like engineering and pharmacy through the Telangana State Engineering, Agriculture and Medical Common Entrance Test (TS EAMCET).

However, certificates in the domain concerned will be granted to students provided they secure requisite credits i.e. 90 credits out of 100. For award of three-year diploma, a student has to secure 130 of a total of 150 credits. This new system is being planned by the State Board of



Technical Education and Training (SBTET) in tune with the new National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

The policy allows multiple entry and exit options in higher education. In a four-year degree course, a certificate will be awarded, if a student opts to leave the course after successfully completing one-year of the entire course work, diploma for completing two-year course work, a degree for finishing three-year course and honours degree for completing four-year course.

At present, the diploma holders are eligible for lateral entry into the second-year engineering and pharmacy courses in both university and private unaided colleges in the State through the Telangana State Engineering Common Entrance Test. “This new exit system is being proposed by the SBTET in tune with the NEP.

After necessary approvals from the State government including certificate equivalency to the intermediate certificate, it will be introduced in all diploma courses offered by the Board. A proposal on the same will soon be sent to the government. Currently, there is a lateral entry into second-year diploma in engineering courses for the ITI qualified candidates through the LPCET,” an official said.