CHANDIGARH, July 28: Poor response to plus one science classes in city colleges has forced the UT Education Department to backtrack from its earlier policy. The UT Department is now planning to adjust students admitted in plus one classes in city colleges in the vacant seats in nearby ordinary schools.The 375 seats in the three colleges have attracted only about 20-odd takers. While there were 125 applicants, only 40 were found eligible. Of the 10 students who were admitted out of the 75 seats in Government College, Sector 11, only five are attending classes. In GCG-11, eight students were admitted against 150 seats and only two are attending the college. There were only six admissions in GCG-42 as against 150 seats.UT Education Secretary Anuradha Gupta stated that they would not throw open the seats which have been left vacant in the colleges to all students. This, she said, would defeat the purpose of the experiment apart from deviating from the National Education Policy.She described the demand for upgradation of schools in all rural areas as "not genuine" as a large number of seats in plus one classes in ordinary schools in rural areas and colonies were still vacant.She described the introduction of plus one in colleges as an attempt to give the rural students an opportunity to study in a good environment with better infrastructure. The poor turn-out only makes their criticism that the two sought after model schools of 16 and 35 are meant only for the elitist and toppers, baseless.Earlier, 375 seats in plus one classes were offered to students of rural areas and colonies in government colleges as extended sections of GMSSS 16 and GMSSS 35 this year.According to the Education Secretary and college principals, the poor response is mainly due to the medium of instruction as many rural students are apprehensive of opting for instructions in the English medium, after studying in Hindi till matriculation.A parent questioned as to how the colleges would be able to attract 300 girl students from rural areas and colonies in the science stream, as most students have traditionally opted for arts stream. He further alleged that the move to introduce plus one in government colleges was only meant to adjust the surplus science staff in these colleges.A college principal attributes the poor response to the fact that parents were not keen to send girl children to colleges when seats were available in schools.
