Friday, February 14, 2020

Chemistry not must for BE & BTech

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:14.02.2020

In an effort to attract more students towards engineering, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has removed chemistry from the mandatory list of subjects for admission to BE, BTech courses.

Hitherto, physics, chemistry and mathematics were must for joining engineering courses.

In its approval process handbook for 2020-21, the council has allowed students who have completed higher secondary with physics and maths along with optional subjects of biology, biotechnology, computer science, information technology, agriculture, engineering graphics and business studies to take up engineering.

Chemistry is one of foundation courses for engineering degrees, say profs

The decision has received flak from professors and academicians who feared that the quality of engineers may go down as chemistry knowledge is must for most engineering streams. Professors argued that along with maths and physics, chemistry is one of the foundation courses for engineering degrees. “Without knowing composition of cement or composition of soil one cannot become a civil engineer. Likewise, chemistry knowledge is needed in material science, mechanical engineering, mining, biotechnology, electrical engineering, textile engineering and chemical engineering. Chemistry is everywhere,” said professor Pandurangan, department of chemistry, Anna University.

Even computer science students need to know about composition of materials. “Chemistry is a basic requirement for engineering students as it touches all branches of engineering. It is not a sensible move by the AICTE as it could further bring down the quality of engineers,” said E Balagurusamy, former VC, Anna University.

“AICTE should not dilute engineering education as per the whims and fancies of private engineering colleges. In the previous year, it took a decision to relax faculty-students ratio from 1:15 to 1:20 and it has affected research and other activities in engineering colleges,” he said. Anna University VC M K Surappa the move was taken without consulting the universities. “AICTE should have consulted all the stakeholders including technical universities before taking the decision to change the eligibility criteria,” he said.

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