Language undergraduate programmes of Mahatma Gandhi University are finding far fewer aspirants.
About 40 per cent of seats remained vacant in affiliated colleges of the varsity after the completion of the two main rounds of the Centralised Allotment Process (CAP). Classes for the first-year degree courses commenced two weeks ago.
Surprisingly, the English language courses this year witnessed a considerable dip in demand, the ‘job-oriented’ ones suffering the most. There were only a few takers for the ‘specialised’ courses in Copy Editing, Journalism, and Teaching.
The intake data for various English degree courses showed that over 1,280 seats were remaining vacant. Of the 171 seats for the BA English Language and Literature Model II (Copy Editor), 101 seats are vacant.
The situation was no different for the programmes in Communication and Journalism Model III and BA in Literature and Communication Studies Model III (Double Main).
First course
The first course had 60 per cent vacant seats while 244 of the 366 seats in the second had no takers.
“It’s not classroom experience alone that factors while we offer language programmes to the students. We have to implement best practices, personality development, and good communication skills among them. The curriculum must also cater to the job prospects emerging before the aspirants,” said Jancy James, former Vice Chancellor of the Central University of Kerala and Mahatma Gandhi University. The acceptance for Malayalam language degree course is also on the decline going by the seats remaining vacant.
There were no takers for 147 of the 448 seats in affiliated colleges under CAP. The specialised Malayalam courses too slipped in popularity, with only half of the seats getting filled for the Copy Writing programme.
The data also referred to a dip in demand for Hindi courses, with 74 of the 199 seats of the BA Hindi Language and Literature course remaining vacant.
Dr. James reminded the need for introducing a professional counselling initiative targeting Plus Two students in the State.
