BMS course unseated by mismanagement

But several principals feel that even a shunting exercise is not going to help. They blame the lack of publicity given to the undergraduate level BMS course for the present mess, as also the poor planning by the university.

While 2,444 took the entrance test for admission to the course, 2,000-odd qualified, according to universityofficials. The total number of seats is 1,530. But the clincher came after the university allotted colleges to the students; several of them did not turn up at the colleges at all.

Altogether, 34 colleges are offering the course, with a maximum limit of 45 seats. The centralised admission process was followed, with allotment of seats according to merit.

But soon after the results were announced, it became clear that the number of students was far less than expected. Colleges had started the course under the impression that the number of seats would be 60. But, on July 12, a meeting of principals was held and it was decided to axe the number of seats to 45, according to sources. The reason: if the 60-seat criteria is followed, there were not enough students to go around in all the colleges.

This itself upset all calculations made by colleges. Says Principal S G Chitale of Hazarimal Somani college, Chowpatty: “This is a non-aided course (with a fee of Rs 8,300 per year), and we calculated the expenses tobe borne on the basis of the number of students. A decision has also to be taken about faculty members to be inducted and their payment.”

But even the seat reduction did not serve much purpose. The university had directed students to approach colleges by July 23. But at Hazarimal college, only 27 students turned up. At Lala Lajpatrai College, 38 students joined, while Akbar Perbhoy college has 32. “Students, if they did not get admission in a college of their choice, have opted for another course,” says a principal.

To tackle this, the university called an urgent meeting of principals on Wednesday, where it was decided to allow transfer of students. But as Chitale predicts: “There is going to be an exodus now.” The second round of admissions should be used only for accommodating students not taken in earlier, principals feel.

Principal of Vivekanand college, Chembur, Jharana Das, says that as this is the first year, there will be teething problems and does not foresee any difficulty in filling upseats in city colleges. She adds: “Not many students took the exam, because proper publicity was not given.” Concurs Shirahatti: “Only the management was not proper. Even the CET itself was conducted so late (on July 4).” Otherwise, principals are unanimous that the course contents are “good”.

On the other hand, the university does not see any problems. Says Board for College and University Development director Dr M N Welling: “There was no problem of publicity, otherwise we wouldn’t have got such an overwhelming response.” There are at least 200 students still in the waiting list, he says. Students did not go to colleges only because it was not of their choice, but with the transfer policy now, all the seats will be filled up, he feels.