An order issued earlier this month by the Higher Education department to State universities asking them to enhance intake of post-graduate students has put them in a fix.
In a directive issued to registrars of all universities under the aegis of Higher Education department, Principal Secretary Mangat Ram Sharma referred to the hardships faced by students in securing admission to PG courses in universities due to availability of a limited number of seats, and the short time span fixed for securing admission.
The letter mentioned the difficulties faced by students belonging to financially weaker sections hailing from villages surrounding the universities in pursuing their higher studies in private/self-financing/ deemed to be universities because of the high fee when compared to State universities.
The students, who cleared arrears exams, lagged behind the regular stream of students and, hence, they found it difficult in securing PG admission at the same time, the letter said.
“In view of the above, I am to request you to enhance the number of intake of students for pursuing PG degrees in the various departments of the university to at least 5% of the existing ceiling percentage, and also to extend the time limit till September 17 for securing PG admission,” the letter said, and instructed the registrars to send an action taken report to the government at the earliest.
Teachers of Bharathidasan University said they appreciated the intent of the government to improve the gross enrolment ratio in higher education, along with quality infusion.
But the order had come at a time when the first semester was almost coming to an end, they pointed out.
“It is impractical to enrol additional students at this juncture. The order could be complied with in future since the university departments have the capacity to absorb many more students over and above the current level,” a senior professor said.
