The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : B.Tech (Biotech) to be offered to biology students from 08’

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 10, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

B.Tech (Biotech) to be offered to biology students from 08’

HYDERABAD: After two-years of agonising wait, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has finally agreed to allow Biology students to pursue Biotechnology course the B.Tech level along with the students from Mathematics background.

“The AICTE has in principle agreed to our proposal and from next year Bi.P.C. students would also be allowed to take admission,” said K.C. Reddy. Chairman, A.P. State Council of Higher Education (APSCHE).

From the academic year 2006-07, the AICTE objected to the admission of Biology students into Biotechnology courses arguing that a B.Tech degree cannot be given to students who don’t study Mathematics as one of the subjects at the plus two level.

Since majority of state students pursue Intermediate course where Mathematics is neither a compulsory nor an optional subject for Bi.P.C. students, they were losing out on admissions in Biotechnology courses. However, those who studied eleventh and twelfth classes under the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) pattern were eligible as they have the option of studying Mathematics along with Biological Sciences.

Bridge course

Arguing that Biology students were more acquainted with the Biotechnology subjects and better suited to study the course, State Government had written several times to the AICTE for a change in their stand.

Prof. K.C. Reddy said that AICTE is also planning to offer a bridge course on Mathematics for the Biology students taking admission in B.Tech (Biotechnology). “They are working on the modalities and a decision would be taken soon,” he said.

With Biology students denied the chance and Mathematics students not showing much interest lot of seats were also going vacant. This year out of the 700-odd seats in 16 colleges only 80 seats got filled, according to Prof. Raghunath, Camp Officer at the Engineering Counselling. Biotechnology was seen as a hot course during the last two years due to the Government’s policy to encourage Biotech industries.

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