Scramble for admission to grad courses at arts and science colleges

college students
There is a clear lack of awareness about what surfaces carry coronavirus the longest, according to the survey. Representative image: Shutterstock

Thiruvananthapuram: The arts and science colleges in Kerala are seeing a high number of applications for the graduation courses as students are refraining from pursuing higher studies outside the state amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, due to the increased number of applications, even students who secured good marks for their higher secondary exams are concerned if they would fail to get the admission.

Around 3.19 lakh students had applied for the 1,74,000 seats at the Kerala, MG, Calicut, and Kannur and universities last year. The applications are slated to go further up this year.

Though the government has allowed the universities to increase the number of seats for the graduation and post-graduation courses, students are a worried lot.

The Kannur University has requested the government to sanction additional batch for the self-financing science and art colleges.

Though the Kerala University has also reportedly made a similar request, more details were not available. Complaints have been raised that other universities for not taking any action.

Autonomous colleges offer both aided and unaided courses. There is a huge rush to join unaided courses this year.

Aided and government colleges with the basic facilities were allowed to increase the seats for graduation by up to 70, without causing much financial liability. Permission was also given to increase PG science courses by 20 seats and arts courses by 30.

The government stance is that it is now for the universities to take the follow-up steps.

But the students point out that the number of additional seats sanctioned was not sufficient. Earlier, up to 20 per cent of seats were increased for various courses.

The functioning of government offices and universities has been hit due to the COVID-19 crisis.

The students are apprehensive if this would have an impact on the additional seats allotted.

If the government does not take urgent steps, the future of several students could be jeopardised.

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