The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : `Declining preference for science streams cause for concern'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Oct 16, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

`Declining preference for science streams cause for concern'

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, OCT. 15. V.S. Ramamurthy, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, today expressed concern at the sharp decline in the number of students opting for science streams, even as more science and engineering candidates preferred more lucrative careers in management and marketing.

Prof. Ramamurthy, who delivered an address at the 147th annual convocation of the University of Madras, said though the quality of education imparted in some leading institutions was comparable to the best in the world, it was "not up to expectations" in a majority of institutions in the country.

At a time when science and technology (S and T) was becoming imperative for national development and when the demand for trained manpower was on the rise, "some of our bright ones opt to go outside the country for better opportunities."

The changing student preferences in education and career were likely to affect the long-term availability of trained personnel in science and technology. He attributed the prevailing trend to the increasing career options in non-S and T areas, large-scale student migration to a few high-demand disciplines even within the S and T streams, a mismatch between what was taught and the needs of the job market and poor infrastructure in the educational institutions arising out of resource constraints.

Role models

Prof. Ramamurthy referred to several new schemes launched by the department to strengthen the education and research infrastructure in universities and other teaching institutions. Role models such as structural biologist, G.N. Ramachandran, would inspire the new generation of students to take up the challenge of exploring new frontiers in science and technology and make India globally competitive.

The Governor and Chancellor, University of Madras, P.S. Ramamohan Rao, presided. He presented honoris causa degrees to six eminent personalities. They are Prof. Ramamurthy; Eric Walker, Director, Travel Medicine Education, United Kingdom; political scientist, Agarala Easwara Reddi, and Carnatic music exponents M. Balamuralikrishna, L. Subramaniam and B. Rajam Iyer.

In all, 361persons including 114 prize winners and 70 rank holders received the degrees. The former Assembly Speaker, P.H. Pandian, was among the 174 candidates, who were conferred with Ph.D. degrees. As many as 82,216 candidates were admitted to receive their degrees in-absentia.

V. Vijaya Nirmala of the Sacred Heart College, Tirupattur; K. Aswini of the Jaya College of Arts and Science, Tiruninravur; V.M. Geetha of the Meenakshi College for Women, Chennai; R. Ramaprasad of the R.K.M. Vivekananda College, Chennai; D. Santhalakshmi of the Auxilium College, Katpadi; D. Sharmila of the Voorhees College, Vellore, and S. Suseela of the A.A. Government Arts College for Women, Walajapet, won five and more awards.

S.P. Thyagarajan, Vice-Chancellor, presented a report on the achievements of the University. The Education Minister and Pro-Chancellor, C.Ve. Shanmugam, participated.

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