Few takers for Mathematics in UG, PG courses

Updated on: Tuesday, January 03, 2012

Even though Mathematics provides lot of job opportunities in the current IT era, very few students take Mathematics in under graduate and post graduate level in colleges and universities.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said over more than the last three decades many of our young men and women with a natural ability in mathematics have not pursued the discipline at advanced levels.

The statistics provided by the 153-year-old University of Madras which affiliates over 150 arts and science colleges in the districts of Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur reveals that only 1,827 students joined B.Sc (Mathematics) in 2009-10, 1,822 in 2010-11 and this year the number dropped marginally to 1,808.

The condition is still worse for M.Sc (Mathematics) only less than 200 students had joined the course in the last two years only this year the number touched 228.

However the statistics provided by D.G. Vaishnav Arts and Science College, Arumbakkam in the city says a different story. Every year the college fills all 70 seats it has in B.Sc Mathematics.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle Prof S. Narasimhan, principal of the college said that they receive four applications for one seat in B.Sc (mathematics) every year.

“Mathematics has been one of the courses which attracts more students in our college every year. With more and more IT companies offering job opportunities to these students I am certain that the country would produce more Ramanujans,” he said.

Prof. Narasimhan pointed out that Mathematics played a key role in everyday life. “Without maths I don't think we can work everyday as Maths students not only join IT companies but also go for research to take up jobs in higher education institutions,” he added.

Compared to the colleges school administrators have a different story to narrate. According to Alfred Devaprasad, chief executive officer (CEO), Alpha group of institutions, Chennai, a section of students perform well in Mathematics but the other section with lack of interest in Mathematics fail miserably.

“Nowadays it is difficult for us to get a highly qualified and skilled teacher to teach Mathematics. It's a big challenge for us and I think if the universities are able to produce more post-graduates we will be able to solve this issue,” he added.
 

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