COIMBATORE: The postgraduate departments at Periyar University's Postgraduate and Research Centre located in Dharmapuri district are finding it difficult to enrol students. Student admissions have declined in recent years, with enrolment in dropping to single-digit numbers in six PG courses this year.
Out of the eight departments, totally 27 students enrolled in six PG courses so far this academic year. Last academic year only two departments recorded single-digit enrolment, show official data accessed last week.
Data also show as many as 22 students enrolled in the English department last academic year, but only two have enrolled this year. Five students joined the M.Com programme last year, and only three this year. Nine students enrolled in Geology last year, and just one this year. In Computer Science, 15 students joined last year, compared to seven this year. Fifteen students enrolled in Mathematics last year, seven have joined this year. Biotechnology saw 14 enrolments last year, but only seven this year.
In the remaining two, 16 students joined the Physics department last year, and 12 have enrolled this year. The highest enrolment is in the MBA programme, with 64 students last year compared to 60 this year," sources added.
The eight PG courses had commenced in the 2013-14 academic year. The poor administration of Periyar University has been blamed for the poor response to courses, say official sources.
A teaching staff from the centre, who did not wish to be named, told TNIE that apart from regular expenditure, Periyar University spends around Rs 34.50 lakh per month on salaries only for teaching staff, including guest lecturers.
"Due to Periyar University's inefficient administration in the past, the development of this centre has been affected and admissions have declined. The university's officers have failed to strengthen this centre both administratively and academically. As a result, the university wastes crores of rupees every academic year, and it may soon face a financial crisis similar to that of universities such as Madras, Madurai Kamaraj," he warned.
"Even now, some mismanagement continues in the centre. For instance, there are four teaching staff for just 10 students in the first and second year batches of the Geology department. Similarly, the MBA department has around 120 students but only three staff members. Several issues like these should be addressed immediately to save Periyar University," he said.
When asked about it, a top officer from the centre told TNIE that some students may still join these courses as admissions continue until the end of this month.
When contacted, Higher Education Minister Govi Chezhiyan told TNIE that the issue about single-digit student enrolment in some courses has come to his attention, and he said that he has sought a report from the centre.
He assured to take necessary steps based on the report.