Around 980 seats remain vacant in six government arts colleges in Coimbatore

As plenty of as 983 seats remain vacant in six administration arts and science colleges in Coimbatore district, COIMBATORE: With undergraduate admissions closing on August 17.

Key points

• During this year, 3, 399 seats of the total, have been filled, leaving 983 vacancies as of August 17.
• Valparai has the highest number of vacancies, with 304 of its 520 seats remaining unfilled.
• While an extra 35 students have joined this year, Last year, around 180 seats were filled.
• Speaking to TNIE, CPM Valparai taluk secretary P Paramasivam remarked that, compared to other colleges in the district, Valparai college had recorded low enrolment over recent years.
• An assistant professor at a administration college in Coimbatore, stated admissions had remained open until September in previous years but had closed in August this year.

According to data from the office of the Regional Joint Director of Collegiate Education, Coimbatore region, the six colleges located in Coimbatore city, Puliyakulam, Thondamuthur, Valparai, Mettupalayam and Pollachi, offer a total of 4, 382 UG seats in current academic year.

During this year, 3, 399 seats of the total, have been filled, leaving 983 vacancies as of August 17. As plenty of as 35 students who cleared the Class 12 supplementary examination have additionally joined these colleges.

Valparai has the highest number of vacancies, with 304 of its 520 seats remaining unfilled. Pollachi has the lowest number of vacancies, with 68 of its 420 seats remaining vacant. The Administration Arts College (Autonomous), Coimbatore, recorded the highest enrolment. Of its 1, 996 sanctioned seats, 1, 883 have been filled.

In the government-aided college category, 12, 926 seats are available in eight colleges. While 2, 611 remain vacant, of these, 10, 315 seats have been filled. Overall, 82.38% of seats in administration colleges and 79.80% of seats in aided colleges have been filled during the current academic year, according to the data.

While an extra 35 students have joined this year, "Last year, around 180 seats were filled. Students from other districts hesitate to join the college due to the lack of hostel facilities in Valparai. High room rents, food costs and other expenses are unaffordable for plenty of students. Hence, the state administration should provide hostel facilities here to rise student admission in this college, " he noted.

Meanwhile, an assistant professor at a administration college in Coimbatore, stated admissions had remained open until September in previous years but had closed in August this year. "If the admission deadline is extended, there is a possibility that a few more students may join the colleges, " he remarked.

Regarding an extension of the admission deadline, a top officer from the collegiate education, remarked the colleges had sent a letter to Bharathiar University seeking permission to conduct admissions to fill the remaining vacant seats and were awaiting a response.

She additionally recalled that around 89% of seats in administration colleges were filled last academic year.

Taken together, the developments around around 980 seats remain vacant in six government arts colleges in Coimbatore point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.