Add-on courses at city colleges see rush of students

UGC in-charge and academics co-ordinator at PGGCG-42,Dilip Kumar said,“The popular subjects among these are Animation and Web Designing,where all the 40 seats are filled up. Still the girls keep coming up to ask for admissions. Even before it was started,the Cosmetology course gained popularity in the college. We announced the subject a few weeks ago and over hundred girls have asked for registrations. With such an increase in demand for the admissions into the course,it seems we will have to ask the authorities to increase the seats from 40 to 100.”

Principal of PGGCG 42,Mani Bedi,who is also co-ordinator for admissions in the government colleges said,“We have seen a huge rush of girls coming up to take admissions in these courses. The admissions are done on the basis of merit and if the number of students are more,then we check their aptitude for the particular course and adjust them accordingly.”

“Learning animation along with graduation studies is a fun experience for the students. The best part is that they get to learn it at nominal fees. The private institutes charge around Rs 20,000 to 25,000 for these courses. Here,it costs them only Rs 200 per month for the practical courses while it is Rs 100 for the Disaster Management course since it doesn’t include practicals,” added Kumar.

At the Government College for Girls,Sector 11,there are five add-on courses like Career Guidance and Counselling,Floriculture and Landscaping,Disaster Management,Web Designing and Mass Media and Videography,which was installed a few days ago.

UGC in-charge at PGGCG-11,Shashi Joshi said,“There have been demands for subjects like Medical Technology,Cosmetology,Tourism and Child Care. We are planning to apply to the University Grants Commission for these subjects soon. Also,we are waiting for feedback from the students. If after learning these courses,they get some employment,we will consider other subjects as well.”

“Usually students leave the subject after doing the certificate course,but we have around 14 students who are doing advance research in Career Guidance and Counselling course. Students are showing great interest in the Mass Media and Web Designing courses these days. We hope it benefits them in future too,” added Joshi.

Meanwhile,principal of the Government College in Sector 46,Gurjeet Kaur said,“We don’t have any add-on courses available in the college,but we are planning to start with some vocational training programmes soon.”

However,a few courses like Women Studies,Police Administration,Yoga and Physical Fitness,which were proposed after demands from students,are yet to be introduced in colleges.