Fewer number of students in Intermediate maths and science streams this year has left engineering and pharmacy college managements worried. Moreover, it has led to the closure of some colleges.
In the Mathematics stream of the second year Intermediate course, the number of students has dropped to 4.21 lakh from 4.74 lakh last year. Similarly, in the biological sciences stream, the number has dropped to 1.48 lakh from 1.78 lakh in 2012.
A corresponding drop is also expected in EAMCET applications and subsequently engineering and pharmacy admissions this year. However, the dwindling numbers will not have much of an impact on medical, dental or agriculture courses as seats for them are far less in number compared to the demand.
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EAMCET officials maintain that not more than 2.6 lakh students will apply for the engineering stream this year, down from 2.94 lakh last year. The number of medical stream aspirants too is expected to come down to around 80,000 compared to 95,518 last year. Curiously, college managements agree in private that they are worried about its impact on admissions.
The only solace for the managements is that students are unlikely to move to other states as officials seem determined to complete admissions by July and start classes on August 1.
“Along with fewer Inter students, the poor campus placements this year will also have an impact on engineering courses,” a college correspondent said. The tough measures initiated for extending the fee reimbursement scheme might also drive students away from engineering courses.
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Linking the scheme with Aadhaar cards, online applications and strict verification is likely to prevent false claims made mostly in connivance with colleges.
Last year, 3.64 lakh seats were on offer, while only 2.07 lakh students qualified in EAMCET, leaving 1.5 lakh seats in surplus. In fact, vacant seats have been increasing over the years. In the 2010-11 academic year, as many as 85,548 seats went vacant, while it was 49,670 seats in 2009-10.
Poor admissions are forcing some colleges to shut down. JNTU Hyderabad has got requests for closure of as many as 89 B.Tech courses and 12 M.Tech courses this year, with the IT branch being hit the hardest.