Ludhiana, August 9
The market oriented subjects (vocational) introduced to provide job opportunities to students, seem to have gone into rough weather with Panjab University’s recent notification to colleges to discontinue these 27 add-on subjects.

The colleges are in a dilemma over the recent development as they have not only received but have already spent the grants issued by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to run the courses.

Principal, National College Doraha, prof N.S.Sidhu said they had started the courses after getting a nod from the UGC. He said the college had already spent the grant to run the courses in a smooth manner and students had shown keen interest in these courses. The management as well as the students are in a fix now. The UGC had allowed to admit 40 students in each of the add-on courses.

According to the country’s 10th plan, the UGC had introduced 27 vocational courses in colleges so that job seeking students could get better opportunities. These courses are from all the three streams including arts, science and commerce. Some of these subjects include functional English, video production, foreign trade practices, practise of insurance, information technology, fashion designing, instrumentation, industrial microbiology, industrial chemistry etc.

“But the notification by PU to colleges on July 20 has come as a big jolt. Students are already studying these add-on subjects. Now we have been asked to discontinue the process. We feel that the university must allow us to continue with the process this year as hundreds or may be thousands of students affiliated with PU have joined these courses. It is an injustice to these career oriented students”, said a principal of a local college on condition of anonymity.

Tarsem Bahia, one of the senate members said this could be a decision of a sub-committee. “The decision has not been taken by the Syndicate or Senate. This will certainly weaken the concept of vocational education. I feel the university must reconsider the decision. It should atleast allow the colleges to continue with the courses this year”, said Bahia.