KOCHI:With engineering courses taking a backseat, traditional degree courses in humanities, science and commerce have made a comeback as preferred choices for students.
Getting admitted to a BA, B.SC or B.Com course in a reputed college can be hard even for students with academic excellence.
“You cannot ensure a seat even if your ward secures more than 90 per cent. Otherwise, there should be a high-level recommendation,” said Joseph E, a parent who failed to ensure a seat for her daughter in a reputed Kochi college.
He tried for a B.Com seat under the management quota, but was asked to pay Rs 1 lakh.
“We were surprised to see the spurt in number of applicants for BA English Literature and B. Com. This was quite unexpected and we are not quite sure why,” said principal Sajimol Augustine M.
With thousands of seats finding no takers, the Kerala Self-Financing Engineering College Managements Association (KSFEMCA) is now rueing the reckless manner in which new engineering colleges were sanctioned. “The AICTE should have been more vigilant in sanctioning new colleges. There are 165 engineering colleges in Kerala which together offer 53,000 engineering seats.
“Of these, 18,000 seats were remained vacant last year for want of students. The situation unlikely to change this year too,” said KSFEMC president K Sasikumar. Cusat Pro-Vice Chancellor Paulose Jacob echoed the view. “Merit is often compromised when the focus is switched to filling of seats,” he said.
