Fewer takers for engineering applications in Anna University on Day 1

Updated on: Saturday, May 12, 2012

The forecast is dim for engineering admissions this year. On Friday, the first day of the sale of applications, Anna University sold 85,986 forms at various centres across the state - nearly 2,800 lesser than the 88,770 applications sold on the first day in 2011.

"This is an indication that more engineering seats are likely to go vacant this year than in 2011," said educational consultant P Moorthy Selvakumaran.

Last year, Anna University began issuing applications a couple of days after the results were announced, meaning only those eligible for admission could have bought the forms. This year, the Class 12 board exam results are expected only on May 22 and more forms were expected to be sold. Still, the first-day number is low, clearly indicating a trend, said educational consultants.

Anna University vice-chancellor P Mannar Jawahar had earlier said that more than 2 lakh forms had been printed and that every engineering aspirant could be assured of a seat.

Despite 42,000 government quota seats going vacant last year, about 28,000 seats are to be added to the matrix in 2012. The All India Council for Technical Education has approved more than 100 new engineering colleges and many existing ones have sought approval for additional seats and new courses.

Academics said more students were likely to go to arts and science colleges as IT companies had indicated, during the last placement season, that they preferred science graduates to engineers for jobs like software testing, as they could be hired at lower salaries.

Chennai: The forecast is dim for engineering admissions this year. On Friday, the first day of the sale of applications, Anna University sold 85,986 forms at various centres across the state - nearly 2,800 lesser than the 88,770 applications sold on the first day in 2011. "This is an indication that more engineering seats are likely to go vacant this year than in 2011," said educational consultant P Moorthy Selvakumaran.

Last year, Anna University began issuing applications a couple of days after the results were announced, meaning only those eligible for admission could have bought the forms. This year, the Class 12 board exam results are expected only on May 22 and more forms were expected to be sold. Still, the first-day number is low, clearly indicating a trend, said educational consultants.

Anna University vice-chancellor P Mannar Jawahar had earlier said that more than 2 lakh forms had been printed and that every engineering aspirant could be assured of a seat. Despite 42,000 government quota seats going vacant last year, about 28,000 seats are to be added to the matrix in 2012. The All India Council for Technical Education has approved more than 100 new engineering colleges and many existing ones have sought approval for additional seats and new courses.

Academics said more students were likely to go to arts and science colleges as IT companies had indicated, during the last placement season, that they preferred science graduates to engineers for jobs like software testing, as they could be hired at lower salaries.

Fewer takers for engineering applications in Anna University on Day 1

More Education news