Fewer FY BSc students are migrating to professional courses, thus straining infrastructure of city-based science colleges
The historic 94.6% result of Class 12 science this year is proving nightmarish for city-based science colleges. They are bursting at the seams with students not migrating to professional courses, as was the case till last year.
About 40% of FY BSc students, every academic year, opt out of the science colleges after securing admission in engineering, medical and paramedical courses but this year, only 10% to 20% of them have done so.
Infrastructural failure is what college authorities fear the most. The lecture halls are full, but of course, they cannot accommodate 200 students in alloted batch strength of 120.
The pressure becomes evident in science laboratories, which are not equipped enough to provide adequate inventory to all the students.
A thin faculty strength, few lab technicians and lack of equipment is simply adding to the colleges’ woes.
“This is the result of giving admission to more students than is possible,” said RR Shah, principal of KK Shah Jarodwala Maninagar Science College. “We have 32 faculty members to cater to 450 students.
This year, we have given admission to about 960 students in first year science.” If 150 students opt out for professional, the college will still have a surplus of 250 students. “I don’t want to even imagine the scenario of catering to 960 students,” said the principal.
At 600 students in the first year, the situation is worse at CU Shah Science College; for, everybody is jostling for space and time for laboratory sessions. “Even if we manage the theory classes, giving practical lessons to all of them, at the same time, is impossible,” said Anita Gharekhan, principal of the college.
“We are conducting practical sessions in three shifts. Not only has it exposed staff shortage, but also is draining the college’s funds. The government provides 75% grant on basis of 130 students in one class,” she added.
Manish Doshi, a former syndicate member of Gujarat University (GU), sys this situation shows the varsity’s negligence towards promoting pure sciences.
“They (GU) have not recruited professors since 1998! It is a known fact: 48% to 52% of posts are vacant in colleges. About 65% vacancy has been reported for lab technicians and other staff members, including Class III and IV officers,” said Doshi. Coupled with the infrastructure problem, scarcity in number of teachers is sure to bring down quality of science education in the state,” he added.
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