Merit students lose seats

The Andhra Pradesh government has decided to raise the quota of management seats for both MBA and MCA colleges from the existing 20 per cent to 25 per cent from this academic year.

Though nothing is confirmed as yet, a formal announcement to this effect is expected in the next couple of days.

However, it is still undecided on the quantum of fee hike for both these prestigious courses. The private college managements have long been demanding raise in management quota seats as well as tuition fee.

They argued that the management quota and fee structure in the state are lower when compared to a number of other southern states.

Though the private colleges demanded raising the management quota to 30 per cent, the state government has decided to go for 25 per cent anticipating furious protests from the student community.

Currently, there are altogether 390 MCA and 296 MBA colleges in the state which offer nearly 53,500 seats.

The counselling for admissions is expected to commence in the second week of July.

With the raise in management quota seats by 5 per cent this year, meritorious students will lose nearly 2,600 seats in convenor-quota, which will be eventually shifted to the management quota.

However, the officials said the decision would not have much impact on the students as there are chances of 50 to 60 new colleges coming up this year and at least another 20,000 seats are likely to be added.

But a number of students who secured merit in the entrance examination argued that they will lose the opportunity of admissions for 5 per cent seats in ‘top colleges’ which they specifically aim for.

Of the total 2,00,836 candidates who appeared for the Icet-2008 entrance examination for MBA and MCA admissions this year, 1,93,215 candidates qualified recording a staggering pass percentage of 96.20 per cent.

Last year, it was a little below at 87.82 per cent.

Only 10% of CBSE English seats taken

Less than 10 per cent of English medium CBSE seats in government schools have been taken, even as opposition parties and teachers unions are fiercely opposing its introduction.

The government is offering CBSE syllabus for English medium students from Class VI.

Officials blamed the poor response on the lack of textbooks. They said that nearly 15 lakh textbooks were needed for CBSE students in 6,500 schools and these have not been printed.

Some teachers are playing radio news bulletins in the classrooms to help students learn English.

Officials have asked teachers to take classes on spoken English for now. But teachers who taught in Telugu medium all these years have ignored the directives. They contend that the 10-day training given to them was not adequate.

The process of introducing English medium in government schools was started in April, but the government was undecided on the syllabus — SSC or CBSE — till the last minute. It opted for CBSE only on June 10, two days before the schools reopened.

Officials are finding it difficult to provide study material as there are no prescribed textbooks for CBSE. Worse, the officials are still seeking permission from CBSE and NCERT Boards to draft textbooks.

They are now selecting content from NCERT textbooks. Next, they will compile the material in five subjects and then place orders for printing. That will take another two months.

Added to this, more than 3,000 out of 6,500 high schools have no additional classrooms to accommodate English medium students.

“We have instructed them to clean up storerooms and also use varandahs,” said Mr C.B.S. Venkatramana, principal secretary, school education. “These are all initial hiccups which we will overcome soon.”

6,500 schools turn to English

The Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy’s frequent change of stance on the state government’s ambitious programme of introducing English medium in state-run schools from this year has sent shivers down the spines of school education department officials.

In a sudden shift from the earlier stand, Dr Reddy on Monday directed officials to implement English medium in all the 6,500 schools. At a meeting held with officials of school education department on Monday in Secretariat, Dr Reddy made it clear to officials that English medium should be introduced in all the schools at a stretch from this year.

The officials had earlier identified 3,800 schools in the first phase to launch the programme from the coming academic year. With just 10 days to go for the new academic year to commence, officials have their fingers crossed over the possibility of implementing the scheme in all the 6,500 schools.

The mode of syllabus has not been finalised. While the Chief Minister wants CBSE syllabus, the teacher unions are demanding state syllabus. A final decision is expected on Wednesday.

BIE permits 1,600 new private colleges

Despite severe criticism from several quarters for encouraging private colleges at the cost of government colleges, the State government has decided to permit another 1,626 private junior colleges from the coming academic year (2008-09).

The government has approved the proposal put forth by the Board of Intermediate Education (BIE) to open more junior colleges in the private sector. Interestingly, it has not proposed even a single government college in the State.

The government has issued a GO (Rt No. 419), dated May 6, 2008, allowing BIE to issue notification for establishment of 842 new private unaided junior colleges in 587 identified Mandals and 784 junior colleges in 74 Municipalities. BIE is expected to issue a notification inviting applications next week.

Currently, there are 4,088 junior colleges in the State, of which only 711 are government-run and 150 are government-aided. The remaining 3,227 colleges are run by private managements.

However, various associations of junior lecturers of government colleges have strongly protested the move and alleged that the State is conspiring to close down government junior colleges by encouraging more and more number of pri vate colleges every year.

They said while the department of school education is strengthening 6,500 government schools through an investment of over Rs 9,500 crore, the BIE has not initiated any steps so far in this direction, though government colleges are performing better.

Government colleges continued to improve their performance in the Intermediate results with increased pass percentage for the third consecutive year. Out of the 1,01,259 candidates who appeared for the examination this year, 55,133 passed registering 54.45 per cent success. Last year the pass percentage was 52.12 per cent.

The is same with governmentaided colleges which improved their performance, with the pass percentage rising from 53.39 per cent to 53.53 per cent. However, it is considerably high compared to 51.69 per cent recorded in 2006.

Colleges to get commerce labs

Students pursuing Commerce courses at the graduate level will have to attend practical classes like Science students from next year. The Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education (APSCHE) has decided to set up "Commerce labs" in colleges to provide prac tical exposure to students.

The government feels that the present curriculum is not enough to equip students with job skills required in the corporate sector. The students will be taught how to improve soft skills and lay emphasis on tapping opportunities in banking, retail management and human resources in these labs. "We held a brain-storming session with the heads of Commerce departments, deans of universities and representatives of Indian Commerce Association to discuss about the changes needed in the Commerce courses. As part of reforms in Commerce courses, we have decided to set up Commerce labs in all colleges across the State," said Mr M.D. Christopher, secretary, APSCHE.

He said the curriculum of Commerce courses like B.Com will be totally revamped to equip the students with job skills, soft skills and application orientation.

The syllabi of Bangalore, Pune, Delhi, Mumbai and Utkal universities had been examined for the purpose, he said.

"Due to lack of information, particularly among the semi-urban and rural areas, Commerce students are not able to cash in on the new avenues. The reforms in Commerce courses will create awareness among students about changing realities in the business environment in the backdrop of rapid globalisation," said Mr Christopher.