Struggling with poor enrolment,university says no new colleges

A senior council member,however,protested the move. “This seems to be a political move and is aimed at holding back new college proposals from some managements or organisations,” said the member.

Others justified it. “The statistics show that nearly all colleges in the six talukas that come under the jurisdiction of MU barely have an average student enrolment of 60 per cent. The officials have decided there is no need for new colleges,at least for this academic year,” said another senior council member.

Naresh Chandra,pro-Vice Chancellor of MU said,“The proposal is not yet finalised. The proposal and feedback will now be tabled before the academic council,followed by the senate. It will not be correct on my part to comment further at the moment. However,we are open to proposals from managements that want to start innovative and new-age courses.”

The statistics compiled up to August 31,2012,show that colleges in Mumbai city,Mumbai suburbs,Raigad,Ratnagiri,Sindhudurg and Thane,have a dismal enrolment rate in almost all streams. In the Arts stream,enrolment in all talukas is about 67 per cent.

With the exception of the traditional Commerce course with 81.96 per cent,enrolment in the other courses is an average 62 -65 per cent.

Enrolments in the traditional Science stream is 61.41 per cent with the exception of Biotechnology,Nautical Science,Forensic Science and Home Science that recorded 76.56,92.8,88 and 93 per cent respectively.

Statistics till August 31,2013,show enrolments in almost all the streams dipping by almost 10 per cent over the previous year.

A senior official said the university was looking to consolidate the existing education system as well as streamline the functioning of colleges. “Most state universities in India are burdened with managing affiliated colleges,so much so that there is hardly any time for quality research,” he said.

dipti.sonawala@expressindia.com