Only 70 for 5,500 seats: Is pharmacy past its expiry date in Gujarat?

Students in Gujarat no longer have interest in studying pharmacy. And the dismal figures of online registration for admissions to the course reaffirm this fact. More than 50% of pharmacy colleges in the state, last year, functioned with barely any students. No new pharmacy colleges are expected this year. In fact, a few of the existing ones have shut shop.

Thursday marked first day of online registration for admissions to pharmacy courses.

About 500 students accessed the website and only 70 of them completed the registration process.

For the record, 54,000 students had applied on Day 1 of online registration process for engineering courses, which took place last month.

Officials of Admission Committee for Professional Courses (ACPC) confirmed a cold response to pharmacy courses on the first day an ominous sign for the existing colleges in the state. The online registrations will continue till June 13, said officials. Only 2,000 pharmacy seats (of 5,500) were filled last year. Considering this cold response, we can say that about 3,000 seats will remain vacant, said MN Patel, member secretary of the admission committee.

Students of Class 12 Group A with Biology as one of the main subjects are eligible to get admission in pharmacy. But with minimum percentage (for admission) set at 45%, students are opting for other undergraduate courses for they offer better and varied job opportunities. A pharmacy student ends up with a salary as low as Rs7,000 at the end of the course.

ACPC officials also confirmed that a number of pharmacy colleges offering degree courses will shut down from next academic year. No new colleges are expected, either. Colleges offering diploma courses will also see closure.

LD Engg doubles seats in evening course LD Engineering College has decided to double its intake of students 60 to 120 for its evening classes of post diploma to degree engineering courses. A senior professor at the college confirmed the news. He said they have doubled intake to 120 students in four disciplines of engineering civil, mechanical, electronic communications and electrical starting next academic year.

The classes for the courses are conducted in the evening for three hours. Its a four-year course, which includes compulsory work projects as in the regular day programmes.

Students get a degree certificate at the end of the course, said the professor. The course is meant for professionals, who have finished diploma engineering and wish to join degree courses. Applicants must have two years of work experience at a company under civic body limits. The course fee is at Rs1,000 per month. Dates for admission process are expected to be announced soon.

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Only 70 for 5,500 seats: Is pharmacy past its expiry date in Gujarat?