Heavy demand for arts and science courses

P. Sudhaka

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Demand far outstrips available number of seats in many colleges in Tirunelveli

Arts and science colleges are getting a huge number of applications for undergraduate courses this year.

Almost all leading arts and science colleges here are attracting numerous aspirants and their parents. While demand for Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry is overwhelming, rush for B.A. (English) and B.Com., is unprecedented, sources say.

In Rani Anna Government College for Women at Pettai has sold 5,424 applications and received 3,200 filled-in applications till Monday for the 1,252 seats in 14 undergraduate courses. “Since we don’t demand donation and collect the prescribed fee, girls, who want to pursue their higher studies in arts or science stream, prefer our college first,” a faculty member said. Counselling for selecting the students has been scheduled on May 31.

The St. Xavier’s College, Palayamkottai, is the first choice of most of the students and around 6,000 applications have been sold for 900 seats (Shift I and Shift II) in 18 undergraduate courses. “This number may cross 7,000 in the next couple of days,” a faculty member said.

A girl, who has scored 1,159 marks in Plus Two and applied for B.Com. at St. Xavier’s College, was seen enquiring with others if she could get admission for sure. “Apart from the science streams, there is a rush for B.A. English and B.Com.,” said another faculty member.

In St. John’s College, Palayamkottai, around 5,000 applications have been sold till Monday for the 550 seats in 8 undergraduate programmes.

“It shows the faith the students have in our college and the quality of education we offer. We also concentrate on holistic development of students through methodically designed extra-curricular and co-curricular programmes,” said John Kennedy, principal, St. John’s College, which has upgraded its mathematics and chemistry departments into research departments last year.

The reason behind the rush for arts and science programmes is the students’ belief in securing a government job by cracking competitive examinations immediately after the undergraduate programmes. Students make all-out efforts to join an undergraduate course in a college that has flexible curriculum and equip the students with the skills to crack the competitive examinations.

While a few new private arts and science colleges have been opened this year in the district, the Manonmaniam Sundaranar University has introduced undergraduate programmes in physics and chemistry in its constituent colleges at Kanniyakumari, Naagalaapuram and Kadayanallur from this academic year onwards.