Engineering quota for vocational course students fails purpose ‎

Academics felt that these students, who secure high marks in Class 12 after replacing physics with a vocational subject like machining or fitting, are unable to handle the academic rigour of an engineering course in college. Almost all the students who applied to take part in the vocational counselling in Anna University in the last three days have signed up for an engineering course in government, aided or self-financing colleges. Officials said that a few even opted for an IT course even though they specialised in a civil engineering course, though they were completely out of touch with the subject.

Engineering Colleges Tamil Nadu"In the past, students haven't been able to clear their papers every year, and struggle to complete the course at the end of four years," said educational consultant P Moorthy Selvakumaran. Academics said that with engineering involving a lot of physics concepts it's very difficult for students who don't study physics in higher secondary to understand what is going on in both the theory and practical sessions.

Best Engineering CollegesSchool principals said that some students opt for a vocational course because it was easier to score high marks in the Class 12 board exams and because there would be much lesser competition for an engineering seat in this category. "You cannot get into any other reserved category of your own choice, like in the physically disabled quota, community-wise reservation, or ex-serviceman quota. This is the only category that a student can opt for through his choice of subjects, so some students did that to secure a seat in a good college," said a school principal who did not wished to be named.