Jun 12 2014 : Mirror (Pune)
To study or not to study, that is the question
Pallavi.Smart @timesgroup.com
|
UoP's new diktat making MCA -Science exclusive to only students from the Science stream, is forcing colleges to revisit some of the admissions already formalised
Sumit Raut (name changed) completed his BCA (Bachelors’ of Computer Application) sometime ago and promptly took admission in MIT for his MCA – Science (Masters of Computer Application) course. He was happy as the admission procedure was over and he had even received his fee receipt confirming the admission on June 2.However, Raut’s happiness turned out to be short-lived as the college contacted him on June 10 and told him that as per the new diktat issued by the University of Pune (UoP), he is not eligible to attend the course anymore and should either shift to MCA – Commerce or cancel his admission.
Shocked to hear this, Raut had no way of knowing that his was just one such case among several other stu
dents who are now faced with a roadblock in their higher studies.The latest decision by the UoP regarding changing the eligibility criteria in the MCA – Science course has put the students and colleges in a quandary. According to the circular issued recently, only those who have a degree in the Science stream will be eligible to take admission in the MCA – Science course, whereas until last year, even candidates who had completed BCA were allowed to be admitted.
Interestingly, UoP’s decision came out on June 9; when most of the city colleges offering the course have already completed their admission procedures.
Talking to Mirror, a student affected by the decision, said, “After completing BCA, my plan was to continue ahead with MCA Science or MCA – Management. When I got through MCA – Science, I didn’t even apply for
MCA Management. However, I am in a fix now as my admission stands invalid at present as per the new rules and the deadline for MCA Management has already passed. I do not intend to take admission in MCA Commerce.“Another student, who got admission to Fergusson College, said, “This latest decision has got me into a very tricky position. If I don’t wish to apply to MCA – Commerce, I am left with no option but to cancel my admission and wait for an entire year.
Alternatively, I will have to try for a management quota seat, shelling a hefty amount as fee.” “It is a regular process that in MCA, the admissions are provisionally completed before the Pune University results are out. Given the recent decision by the varsity at this late hour, students are now left with no time to take stock of their options and change their career plans accordingly. Had UoP taken this decision earlier, it would have been in the interests of students,” a professor from the MCA faculty said.
UoP, however, insists that its decision is timely since the BCA results are yet to be declared. “A decision in this regard was taken in the last academic council meeting. The rationale behind
it is that a candidate completing MCA – Science will be conferred with a postgraduate degree in Science. It then makes sense only to allow students from science background as they will be eligible for the course. UoP issued the guidelines now as the BCA results are yet to be declared and students will thereby have plenty of time to rethink their options. How can the colleges begin the admission procedure if the BCA result is not even declared yet?,” maintained Kakasaheb Mohite, Dean of Science faculty at UoP.When contacted, Dr Gautam Bhong, principal of Garware College denied there was any issue. “We have not done any such admissions,” he told Mirror. Dr Tanajirao More, principal of the MIT college of Arts, commerce and Science and Dr Ravindrasinh Pardeshi, principal of Fergusson College were unavailable for comment.
Shocked to hear this, Raut had no way of knowing that his was just one such case among several other stu
dents who are now faced with a roadblock in their higher studies.The latest decision by the UoP regarding changing the eligibility criteria in the MCA – Science course has put the students and colleges in a quandary. According to the circular issued recently, only those who have a degree in the Science stream will be eligible to take admission in the MCA – Science course, whereas until last year, even candidates who had completed BCA were allowed to be admitted.
Interestingly, UoP’s decision came out on June 9; when most of the city colleges offering the course have already completed their admission procedures.
Talking to Mirror, a student affected by the decision, said, “After completing BCA, my plan was to continue ahead with MCA Science or MCA – Management. When I got through MCA – Science, I didn’t even apply for
MCA Management. However, I am in a fix now as my admission stands invalid at present as per the new rules and the deadline for MCA Management has already passed. I do not intend to take admission in MCA Commerce.“Another student, who got admission to Fergusson College, said, “This latest decision has got me into a very tricky position. If I don’t wish to apply to MCA – Commerce, I am left with no option but to cancel my admission and wait for an entire year.
Alternatively, I will have to try for a management quota seat, shelling a hefty amount as fee.” “It is a regular process that in MCA, the admissions are provisionally completed before the Pune University results are out. Given the recent decision by the varsity at this late hour, students are now left with no time to take stock of their options and change their career plans accordingly. Had UoP taken this decision earlier, it would have been in the interests of students,” a professor from the MCA faculty said.
UoP, however, insists that its decision is timely since the BCA results are yet to be declared. “A decision in this regard was taken in the last academic council meeting. The rationale behind
it is that a candidate completing MCA – Science will be conferred with a postgraduate degree in Science. It then makes sense only to allow students from science background as they will be eligible for the course. UoP issued the guidelines now as the BCA results are yet to be declared and students will thereby have plenty of time to rethink their options. How can the colleges begin the admission procedure if the BCA result is not even declared yet?,” maintained Kakasaheb Mohite, Dean of Science faculty at UoP.When contacted, Dr Gautam Bhong, principal of Garware College denied there was any issue. “We have not done any such admissions,” he told Mirror. Dr Tanajirao More, principal of the MIT college of Arts, commerce and Science and Dr Ravindrasinh Pardeshi, principal of Fergusson College were unavailable for comment.
