Students plump for comerce over science

MUMBAI, June 14: As graduation in pure science losing its hold over students? As the University of Mumbai felicitated its top ten TYBSc c...

MUMBAI, June 14: As graduation in pure science losing its hold over students? As the University of Mumbai felicitated its top ten TYBSc candidates today at the Fort campus, academicians pondered the gradual loss of students to other streams of learning like commerce.

8220;Pure science as reflected by the varsity curriculum is losing touch with current job opportunities. Take statistics: we had to close down the department two years back,8221; said Prof Zainab Valikarimwala, trustee, Royal College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Mira Road. The ten-year-old college has, for the first time, produced a merit-holder, Sangeeta Manekia, who scored 88 per cent in Zoology.

According to Asha Manglani, CHM College, Ulhasnagar who stood first 93 per cent, maths, there are limited professional courses in science, and students have to plump for either engineering or medicine. Post graduation-options too are limited, she pointed out. The solution, says Manglani, is to have a wide range of courses. She says she opted for purescience as 8220;I was always interested in maths, which is why I took it up. My mother wanted me to study in Ulhasnagar itself, which is why I didn8217;t take up engineering!8221;

Manglani attributed her success to an excellent8217; maths department. 8220;Our professors were ready to offer help round-the-clock,8221; she stated. Manglani, who wishes to explore programming, will take up computers.

Panchal Kishorbha from Ruia College stood third in the merit order with 87.63 per cent in maths. The total pass percentage of TYBSc is 70.69 per cent.

Students prefer to take up commerce, said the Principal of Ruia college, Dr R T Sane. The college has three rankers up its sleeve in the TYBSc merit list. 8220;To prevent the shift to commerce, what we should do is to introduce optional vocational courses. We should have specialisation in industrial chemistry, biotechnology, microbiology. The present day science syllabus is too bookish and there is a gap between industry and science. This should be bridged by introducing supplementarycourses,8221; he said.

The introduction of biotechnology and industrial chemistry three years back at Ruia college is just one of the reasons why students join courses at the college, Sane told Express Newsline. Another being the college8217;s good8217; infrastructure and teachers.