The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Demand for engineering seats growing

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Nov 28, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Demand for engineering seats growing

By K. Ramachandran

CHENNAI, NOV. 27. The thirst for admission into engineering courses in Tamil Nadu has not reduced. In fact, it may be on the rise going by the admissions statistics for 2004-05.

Of the 69,475 engineering seats available in Anna University and its 221 affiliated colleges in the State, 50,759 seats have been filled, according to the statistics given by the institutions. This means 18,716 seats remained vacant this year. This compares favourably against 23,354 vacancies last year. In 2003-04, there were 71,460 seats of which only 48,106 were filled.

Educational administrators say they are accounting for every single admission made by the colleges, nearly all of which have filed returns for admissions to the Government and Anna University. Barring a few "problem admissions" the Government is likely to approve all those admitted according to norms.

This year, despite problems — legal and otherwise — which led to long courtroom battles over modes of admissions, conduct of entrance tests and method of selection, the academic calendar has not been seriously affected. Anna University Vice Chancellor E. Balagurusamy has gone on record saying that the colleges had been asked to conduct extra classes on Saturdays to meet the minimum term day requirements.

The final tally of admissions done through the management quota — 26,076 seats to be exact — is higher than the number of students admitted through the Government quota (single window system of counselling) — 24,683.

`Early notice needed'

In the coming year, of course, some changes could be expected. Most of the academicians in Tamil Nadu feel the need for an early policy announcement about the apportioning of seats among the Government (single window admissions) and management quotas. Then there is the question of the mode of selection for each quota. Students and activists from youth organisations feel that there is no need for a separate test for the management quota.

But this requires an early start of the process of consultations among all the stakeholders, says C. Thangaraj, who heads Arulmigu Kalasalingam College, Srivilliputhur. He suggests that the Government or Anna University call a meeting of principals to thrash out the admission modalities, which can provide inputs for a clear-cut admissions policy.

The chairman of an educational trust in Erode, Viswanathan, also reiterates this viewto ensure that students are not inconvenienced before and after their Plus Two examinations. An early announcement would benefit students, parents, managements and administrators, he notes.

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