West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee today asked private management institutes to reduce the number of branches if they failed to secure jobs for students.

"Those who are not being able to ensure placement of students, think about it - if you can reduce the four-five branches to one or two. Think about the creation of jobs and employability factor," Chatterjee said.

Speaking at a meet organised by the Association of Professional Academic Institutions, Chatterjee said the employers should have confidence in the private institutes.

"You have to build confidence. Jobs are there but every employer will ponder over the issue of return of investment," he said.

The minister said the state government would not meddle in the running of private engineering institutes but the government has certain roles to play to keep tab on their activities and step in accordingly.

Chatterjee said the higher education department has taken steps to rope in experts to prepare students for IAS, and IPS examinations in the state.

He said the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology, a state university, is setting up a placement cell on June 18.(PTI).