Students at the Institute of Technology on Bhopal’s Barkatullah University campus have alleged that severe shortages in computer and engineering laboratories are limiting practical learning, with only about five to seven of more than 50 computers reportedly working in the Computer Science and Information Technology labs.
According to students enrolled at the institute, the remaining computers are obsolete, dismantled or missing essential components. On most days, three or four students allegedly share a single monitor and take turns using the keyboard during laboratory sessions.
The reported shortage affects students in disciplines where regular access to functional equipment is central to coursework. One student, who asked not to be named, questioned how software engineers could be trained when students do not have enough computers to use in class. Another student said they had learned little during their first year.
Civil-engineering students have also reported shortages, including the unavailability of cement for laboratory work. Students further alleged that some equipment and tools have not been upgraded for decades and that certain hardware dates back to the late 1990s.
The complaints extend beyond equipment. Students have described unreliable Wi-Fi and limited library resources, while a dead rat was reportedly found in a computer laboratory, raising concerns about hygiene and the upkeep of teaching spaces.
The Institute of Technology operates as a self-financing institution. Annual charges for engineering courses are reported to be between Rs 40,000 and Rs 47,000. Students said the facilities provided do not match their expectations of a modern technical education, particularly given the fees they pay.
Registrar SB Singh said new computers would be installed in the laboratories soon. Students, however, remained doubtful, saying they had heard similar assurances earlier. The report did not specify the number of new computers planned, the procurement schedule or the date by which the laboratories are expected to be upgraded.
The immediate issue for the institute is therefore not only the condition of its existing equipment but also whether the promised replacement devices and laboratory materials will be installed in time to support regular practical classes. No further implementation details were provided in the report.
