Fewer students taking up Biology not a concern: Minister

NEW DELHI: Admitting that there had been a fall in the number of students appearing for Biology in class XII CBSE examination, the Government, on Monday, allayed fears that it will affect the availability of doctors in the near future.
    
In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Human Resource Development M A A Fatmi said that since only a few of the students opting for Biology in class XI and XII go for medicine degree, there is unlikely to be any affect the number of doctors in the near future.
    
Biology is offered as an elective subject in class XI and XII and compared to 2007, less number of students appeared for Biology in class XII examination this year.
    
The minister, however, felt that limited avenues for biology students in pursuing medicine, longer duration of medicine courses and preference for engineering could probably be some of the reasons why students are shying away from the subject.
    
The CBSE, the minister said, has taken up several programmes to rekindle the interest of students towards Science. These include organising regional level and national level science exhibitions.
    
In addition, a number of orientation programmes for science teachers working in CBSE-affiliated schools are also being oraganised to enhance their professional competency, he said.